ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Second Deputy Leader Masrour Barzani met with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani in Erbil on Wednesday. The closed-door meeting, announced by senior KDP leader Hoshyar Zebari on X, marked the first high-level engagement between the two parties following the October 20 Kurdistan Parliamentary elections.
The discussion focused on accelerating the formation of the KRG’s tenth cabinet. Zebari described the meeting as “frank and constructive,” highlighting its importance in resolving political stalemates.
“Yesterday’s meeting between Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), went smoothly, with frank and constructive discussions. The meeting, held on a one-on-one basis, was in line with the ongoing negotiation process between the KDP and PUK to form the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as soon as possible,” Zebari wrote on X.
The October 20 elections, delayed for two years due to political disputes, saw the KDP emerge as the leading party with 39 seats, while the PUK secured 23 out of the 100-seat legislature. Despite the results, political challenges remain, requiring both parties to collaborate on drafting a joint program for governance.
So far, the KDP and PUK have held four meetings as part of their negotiation efforts. Both parties emphasized the need for an inclusive government capable of addressing critical regional issues.
The urgency of the situation has also drawn international attention. On Wednesday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called on political factions in the Kurdistan Region to form a government within the agreed timeframe, stressing the importance of stability in the region.
After a two-year delay due to political disputes between the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Kurdistan Parliamentary elections were held on October 20 last year. The KDP retained its lead with 39 seats, while its longtime rival, the PUK, secured 23 out of the legislature’s 100 seats.