Rêbwar Taha, a candidate from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), was elected as the new governor of Kirkuk (Kerkûk) during a meeting of the Kirkuk Provincial Council held in Baghdad on Saturday. Taha secured the position by receiving votes from three Arab members, one Christian member and five PUK members present at the meeting.
The election process took place without the participation of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) members and the Turkmen Front members, who boycotted the session along with other Arab representatives. This boycott is believed to be part of a broader Turkish strategy in the region, where it seeks to minimise Kurdish influence in key areas such as Kirkuk. Turkey, through its diplomatic efforts, aimed to forge an alliance between the KDP, the Turkmen Front and Arab factions, thereby shifting control of Kirkuk’s governorship away from the PUK. The KDP, aligned with Turkish interests, attempted to orchestrate a power-sharing deal that would rotate the governorship between Turkmen and Arab candidates, effectively marginalising the PUK.
However, the PUK’s success in the 18 December 2023 provincial elections, where their “Power and Will of Kirkuk” coalition emerged as the dominant force with five seats in the provincial council, strengthened their position. The KDP won two seats, the Arab Coalition three, and the Turkmen Front also two. This victory was significant for the PUK, as it reinforced their influence in Kirkuk’s political landscape.
In the wake of the elections, diplomatic activity between Turkey and the KDP intensified. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, along with the head of the National Intelligence Organisation (MİT) İbrahim Kalın and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, engaged in discussions with the Barzani-led KDP leadership in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Kirkuk elections were a focal point of these meetings, reflecting Turkey’s vested interest in the region’s political dynamics.
Arshad Salihi, a former head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC), had earlier confirmed in a statement to the Iraqi media that an agreement had been reached with the KDP and Arab factions regarding the local administration of Kirkuk. This agreement aimed to limit PUK’s influence and promote the Turkmen Front’s interests in the city.
Following the election, Bafel Talabani, President of the PUK, expressed his commitment to continuing the legacy of Mam Celal (Jalal Talabani) in Kirkuk. Talabani emphasised that the PUK would work inclusively for all components of Kirkuk, striving to make the city a model of coexistence. “We will work to make Kirkuk a place where people say, ‘We want our cities to be like Kirkuk,'” Talabani stated.
