The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is ramping up pressure to form a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet before Iraq’s parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11. This push comes more than a year after the Kurdistan Region’s own parliamentary vote.
Saadi Ahmed Pira, spokesperson for the PUK, emphasized that a recent July 14 meeting between his party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led to improved relations and mutual understanding. According to him, this step narrowed the gap between the two main Kurdish parties on Baghdad relations and future cooperation with Iraqi political factions.
Pira described the meeting as a turning point. He said the KDP has shown new willingness to finalize cabinet formation and reactivate the parliament. “I am hopeful,” he noted, “and there is also new breath from the KDP as well to form the new Kurdistan Regional Government and activate the parliament before the Iraqi election.”
The urgency behind this push stems from prolonged delays. Despite holding regional parliamentary elections on October 20, 2024, the Kurdistan Region has struggled to establish a new government. Power-sharing talks between the KDP and PUK have dragged on for nearly nine months. During this time, parliament convened only once.
The PUK insists it wants meaningful participation in the new cabinet. Pira stated clearly that his party is not demanding a 50-50 power split. However, he stressed that the PUK must have real influence and presence in decision-making roles. This includes key positions such as the Ministry of Interior and the Kurdistan Region Security Council. At the same time, the PUK remains open to compromise if alternative roles are offered.
In the 100-seat legislature, the KDP secured 39 seats, while the PUK won 23. With no single party holding a majority, forming a coalition is necessary. Historically, both parties have shared power despite deep rivalries, and that pattern continues.
Pira warned that the KDP must avoid monopolizing power. He reminded observers that both parties successfully cooperated to secure an agreement with Baghdad regarding delayed public sector salaries. That deal followed tense negotiations and accusations from Iraq’s Finance Ministry, which claimed the KRG failed to deliver promised oil volumes and had received more than its budgeted federal share.
The KRG confirmed on Wednesday that an understanding had been reached with Baghdad, restoring salary payments for more than 1.2 million public employees.
Looking beyond internal politics, Pira highlighted broader regional changes. He pointed to negotiations in northeast Syria (Rojava) and ongoing peace talks between the PKK and Turkey. In light of these developments, he argued that Kurdish unity is more critical than ever.
“The situation is changing,” he said. “The Kurdistan Region can help other parts of Kurdistan. But if we can’t solve our problems, how can others trust us?”
With Iraq’s national elections just months away, the PUK’s push for a new cabinet is gaining momentum. Whether the KDP and PUK can finalize an agreement in time remains uncertain. However, the pressure is building, and the political clock is ticking fast.