Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the two main parties within the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met to discuss upcoming elections, income distribution and Baghdad policy on Sunday in Erbil (Hewlêr). The meeting failed to produce concrete outcomes and ended with tensions running high.
PUK leader Bafel Talabani and KDP politburo secretary Fazil Mirani headed the talks, while neither Talabani’s counterpart Masoud Barzani nor the Prime Minister Masrour Barzani attended.
The four-hour meeting concluded with Talabani strongly opposing remarks made on live TV by one of KDP’s central committee members, Salar Osman, that PUK no longer holds significant political weight.
“PUK will not remain silent. From today onwards, we will respond to any situation as it unfolds. PUK is a part of history, it represents the blood of martyrs, it signifies the price we have paid. PUK is power,” Talabani said.
In response to journalists’ question about how the meeting went and whether there had been progress towards rapprochement between the two parties, Talabani replied, “Do you perceive any signs of rapprochement in what I have said?”
In contrast, Mirani described the meeting as “positive” and clarified that Osman’s statements did not represent official KDP policy. Mirani, adopting a conciliatory approach, emphasised that such remarks should not hinder ongoing negotiations between PUK and KDP.
“Politics should not be driven by reactions or temperament,” Miriani said, criticising Talabani’s attitude. Furtherly, the KDP’s secretary assured that the party would never close its doors to PUK.
Mirani confirmed that future meetings would take place between the two parties, though no date was announced.
Osman confirmed that his televised remarks on the PUK’s political relevance were personal opinion and did not represent KDP’s views or policies.
Osman’s comments were aired by Rudaw simultaneous with Sunday’s meeting aimed at securing a resolution to on-going KDP – PUK disagreements. Notably, to make his heated post- meeting press statement Talabani clearly seized the microphone from Rudaw’s reporter.
The KDP central committee member argued that Talabani’s strong response to the aired statement underscored the importance of continued cooperation with PUK. “Nevertheless … PUK no longer carries the same influence and significance,” Osman reasserted.
Turkey’s involvement intensifies conflict
The ongoing tensions between the main partners of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government have escalated recently, particularly regarding Suleymaniyah, the administrative and financial centre of the PUK stronghold.
These disagreements sparked heated debate between the two sides, leading to a six- month boycott of KRG cabinet sessions by PUK.
PUK and KDP have been in conflict over ideological differences and issues such as parliamentary elections and province budgets. Analysts say Turkish involvement in recent developments have exacerbated the dispute.
Turkey’s accusations against the PUK of collaborating with groups Turkey classifies as terrorists in northern Syria have worsened the situation.
Additionally, Turkey’s banning of flights to Sulaymaniyah due to alleged increased Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) activity has severed the Iraqi province’s air access to Europe.
The KDP’s close ties with Turkey amid these developments have heightened tensions between the two parties. Observers suggest that Ankara is using the flight ban not only to exert pressure on the PUK but also to support its Kurdish ally in Kurdistan, the KDP.
The KDP maintains significant economic, political, and security connections with Turkey, including the recently closed oil pipeline between Kirkuk and the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. In contrast, the PUK maintains closer relations with Kurdish parties in North and East Syria, which are regarded as “terrorist” groups by Turkey.
