Kurdistan’s leading KDP, PUK reach agreement on new gov. formation: Spokesperson

The deal came on Wednesday after a phone conversation between KDP President Masoud Barzani and the acting leader of the PUK, Kosrat Rasul.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) reached an agreement on the formation of the new regional government after series of meetings between the two sides, a PUK spokesperson announced on Wednesday during a press conference.

The deal came on Wednesday after a phone conversation between KDP President Masoud Barzani and the acting leader of the PUK, Kosrat Rasul, according to Latif Sheikh Omar, the PUK’s spokesperson.

“We reached a joint and basic understanding regarding the role and share of the PUK in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG),” he told reporters.

The Kurdistan Region held its parliamentary election in late September as parties competed for representation in the 111-seat parliament. The KDP won the election, securing 45 seats, followed by the PUK with 21 seats, and Gorran with 12.

Omar mentioned that the two parties would officially sign a final agreement in the coming days.

According to the spokesperson, the PUK parliamentary faction attended the Kurdistan Parliament session on Wednesday for the first time to discuss the re-activation and amendment of the Kurdistan Region Presidency bill.

On Feb. 18, the leading party inked a 24-point agreement with Gorran and followed it up with an 18-point deal with the PUK on March 4, securing a cooperation agreement with both parties for the next four years.

The agreement between the KDP and the PUK on Wednesday came hours after Barzani delivered a speech at the 14th Erbil International Book Fair, stating that the KDP had given enough time to other parties regarding the formation of a new KRG cabinet.

“We have reached a stage now where we can no longer wait, and there are no more excuses,” he said.

“The waiting time is over. Parliament will start enacting its programs, elect the president of [the Kurdistan] Region, and the new KRG cabinet,” Barzani added.

The KDP has already nominated Masrour Barzani, the current Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), as the prime minister to form the new KRG cabinet.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany