KDP and PUK to Meet in Pirmam for Final Talks on Cabinet Post Allocations
"The positions under negotiation are divided into three tiers: top-level presidencies, key sovereign ministries, and service ministries. The allocation process aims to balance influence between the two dominant Kurdish parties while maintaining effective governance," K24 correspondent.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Top-level delegations from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are scheduled to meet this Tuesday in Pirmam to hold decisive talks on the allocation of ministerial posts in the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet, a senior PUK official told Kurdistan24 on Sunday.
According to the official, the political agreement outlining the framework for the new KRG cabinet has been finalized and will serve as the foundation for a unified governance approach over the next four years in the Kurdistan Region. The official confirmed that the upcoming meeting will specifically focus on dividing government posts based on that framework.
“Previous meetings between both delegations were dedicated to drafting the terms of the agreement. Discussions on post-distribution did not occur until now,” the official clarified.
According to Kurdistan24 correspondent Nawras Abdullah, the positions under negotiation are divided into three tiers: top-level presidencies, key sovereign ministries, and service ministries. The allocation process aims to balance influence between the two dominant Kurdish parties while maintaining effective governance.
On Saturday, April 12, 2025, Derbaz Kosrat Rasul, a senior member of the PUK's political bureau, confirmed to Kurdistan24 that the KDP-PUK political document had been prepared and that both parties would soon convene to finalize ministerial appointments.
“We want a unified Kurdish voice in the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections. Division only weakens us; unity leads to greater gains,” Rasul stated, underscoring the strategic importance of political cohesion as Iraq prepares for another national vote.
The urgency of political unity comes as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has officially announced his candidacy for a second term in the upcoming national elections scheduled for November 11, 2025. Al-Sudani is also expected to visit Sulaimaniyah this Wednesday, a move viewed as part of a broader political tour to build support among Kurdish factions.
The talks between the KDP and PUK come at a time when the Kurdistan Region faces both internal and external pressures. Meanwhile, Baghdad-Erbil relations remain fragile, with key issues such as budget shares, oil exports, and territorial disputes unresolved.
Historically, cooperation between the KDP and PUK has been both strategic and strained, shaped by decades of political rivalry and intermittent power-sharing arrangements. The current push for a unified government is seen as a critical step toward preserving regional stability and maximizing Kurdish representation at the federal level, particularly ahead of Iraq’s next electoral cycle.
Kurdistan24 correspondent Nawras Abdullah contributed to this news article.
