ERBIL — The political conflict and administrative rift between the two main power centers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have intensified, with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the main Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, on Thursday withdrawing from the regional government..PUK President Bafel Talabani announced the decision in a video message to supporters late Thursday, sharply criticizing the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).He also threatened to take reciprocal measures if the KDP proceeded with unilateral political and administrative decisions in Erbil, raising the prospect of a renewed division between the two centres of influence in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.His decision follows public accusations by a senior official in the KDP that the PUK leader is involved in regional understandings. Concurrently, the latter has announced a full withdrawal from the regional government and said the PUK does not recognize the legitimacy of the most recent parliamentary session or any decisions that come from it.Talabani declared that his party would withdraw from what he called a “failed government” with immediate effect.”A minority within the KDP proved today that they do not know what democracy is, that they hold zero respect for you, the voters, and they proved today that they do not know how governance should be conducted in this country,” he said.Talabani also accused members of the rival party of using public funds to influence lawmakers.He claimed the same group had shown it was willing to use public money “to buy members of parliament, and use your money to threaten MPs.”The PUK leader warned that his party would respond to any unilateral appointments by the KDP with parallel moves.Talabani emphasized that any unilateral step taken in Erbil would be met with a corresponding move in Sulaymaniyah.”You appoint a president of the region, we will appoint a president of the region. You appoint ministers, we will appoint ministers. You appoint a prime minister, we will appoint a prime minister,” he stated explicitly.”Whatever you do over there, we will do right here,” Talabani added.The announcement followed the regional parliament’s first session to elect its leadership in nearly two years.The PUK and the New Generation Movement boycotted the sitting, but a small number of individual lawmakers from those parties attended, allowing the session to proceed.Mohammed Zangana, a KDP member, alleged during a televised interview with the Al-Hadath network that a secret meeting had taken place between Talabani and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Zangana claimed that this meeting served as the primary catalyst and driving force behind Talabani’s threats of secession and his pursuit of unilateral actions within the Kurdistan region. While Zangana did not provide further details regarding the nature of the alleged meeting or the specific agenda discussed, these claims have served to further deepen the divide between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.ERBIL — The political conflict and administrative rift between the two main power centers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have intensified, with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the main Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, on Thursday withdrawing from the regional government..PUK President Bafel Talabani announced the decision in a video message to supporters late Thursday, sharply criticizing the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).He also threatened to take reciprocal measures if the KDP proceeded with unilateral political and administrative decisions in Erbil, raising the prospect of a renewed division between the two centres of influence in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.His decision follows public accusations by a senior official in the KDP that the PUK leader is involved in regional understandings. Concurrently, the latter has announced a full withdrawal from the regional government and said the PUK does not recognize the legitimacy of the most recent parliamentary session or any decisions that come from it.Talabani declared that his party would withdraw from what he called a “failed government” with immediate effect.”A minority within the KDP proved today that they do not know what democracy is, that they hold zero respect for you, the voters, and they proved today that they do not know how governance should be conducted in this country,” he said.Talabani also accused members of the rival party of using public funds to influence lawmakers.He claimed the same group had shown it was willing to use public money “to buy members of parliament, and use your money to threaten MPs.”The PUK leader warned that his party would respond to any unilateral appointments by the KDP with parallel moves.Talabani emphasized that any unilateral step taken in Erbil would be met with a corresponding move in Sulaymaniyah.”You appoint a president of the region, we will appoint a president of the region. You appoint ministers, we will appoint ministers. You appoint a prime minister, we will appoint a prime minister,” he stated explicitly.”Whatever you do over there, we will do right here,” Talabani added.The announcement followed the regional parliament’s first session to elect its leadership in nearly two years.The PUK and the New Generation Movement boycotted the sitting, but a small number of individual lawmakers from those parties attended, allowing the session to proceed.Mohammed Zangana, a KDP member, alleged during a televised interview with the Al-Hadath network that a secret meeting had taken place between Talabani and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Zangana claimed that this meeting served as the primary catalyst and driving force behind Talabani’s threats of secession and his pursuit of unilateral actions within the Kurdistan region. While Zangana did not provide further details regarding the nature of the alleged meeting or the specific agenda discussed, these claims have served to further deepen the divide between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.
Iraqi Kurdish leader Talabani leaves regional government
