KDP and PUK to Resume Talks in Erbil on Formation of Kurdistan Regional Government
The meeting will be held at the Saad Abdullah Hall in Erbil, with the primary agenda focusing on the steps necessary to establish the new KRG cabinet.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Senior delegations from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Erbil to continue discussions on forming the next cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), according to Kurdistan24 correspondent Hoshmand Sadiq.
The meeting will be held at the Saad Abdullah Hall in Erbil, with the primary agenda focusing on the steps necessary to establish the new KRG cabinet following the results of the sixth parliamentary elections held on October 20, 2024.
This upcoming session marks the continuation of high-level negotiations between the two major Kurdish parties. Their last official meeting was held on April 28, 2025, in Dukan, Sulaimani, where KDP leader and KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with PUK Co-President Bafel Talabani.
A History of Power-Sharing
The KDP and PUK have long been the primary political forces in the Kurdistan Region, and their ability to form a functioning coalition government is essential for regional stability. In the most recent sixth round of parliamentary elections, the KDP secured 39 seats, while the PUK obtained 23 seats. By comparison, in the previous fifth-term elections, the KDP won 45 seats, the PUK held 21, and the Gorran Movement gained 12 seats. The Turkmen bloc earned one seat.
Based on those results, the KDP and PUK formed a power-sharing agreement that led to the formation of the ninth KRG cabinet. That cabinet consisted of 18 ministries and three regional minister posts. Under the arrangement, the KDP held the position of Prime Minister, with the PUK taking the Deputy Prime Minister role. The KDP controlled nine ministries, the PUK five, and Gorran was given four.
Path Ahead
The Wednesday meeting in Erbil is expected to outline key responsibilities, ministerial allocations, and governance priorities for the coming years.
If successful, this dialogue could pave the way for the swift formation of a tenth KRG cabinet, ensuring political continuity and addressing the critical challenges facing the Kurdistan Region — including budget disputes with Baghdad, economic development, and regional security.
