Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), has intensified his criticism of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), declaring the current regional parliament a "political collapse in the history of Kurdistan." Speaking at the Sulaymaniyah Strategic Forum on Thursday, Talabani stated that the KDP’s decision to shutter the legislature has led his party to no longer recognize the current body. This escalation occurred just two days after KDP President Masoud Barzani urged Kurdish forces to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences.
Talabani accused a minority faction within the KDP of rejecting any settlement that does not meet its specific demands. He alleged that this group blocked a meeting intended solely for a photo opportunity, preventing diplomatic progress. The PUK leader described the region as operating under the reality of two separate governments, highlighting the deep administrative division between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. He further criticized US envoy Tom Barrack’s intervention, urging Washington to step back and leave political forces to resolve their own differences.
Mahmoud Khoshnaw, a senior PUK official, told Asharq Al-Awsat that tensions are intensifying daily. He noted that hopes for restoring ties following the regional parliament’s session on November 4 have dissipated, pushing the sides toward a permanent rift. Khoshnaw characterized Talabani’s positions as conditional, reflecting a commitment to safeguarding the region’s constitutional rights. He emphasized that the current parliamentary makeup does not represent all Kurdish forces, as major factions remain outside the legislature.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Khoshnaw insisted that the path to a settlement is not completely closed. The dispute centers on the distribution of sovereign posts, a core issue both parties hold leverage over. Political science professor Essam al-Faili noted the crisis remains manageable, pointing out that Baghdad does not want fragmentation. He added that US involvement keeps compromise prospects alive, although Talabani rejected accusations of being under Iranian control, stating he is not in anyone's pocket.
Constitutional expert Dr. Saif al-Saadi stated that forming a separate Kurdish region comprising Sulaymaniyah and Halabja is legally unfeasible. However, journalist Montadhar Nasser suggested such a scenario might better reflect ground realities, allowing Baghdad to deal with two regions separately. He argued this could ease entrenched governance failures that have plagued the area for decades, potentially resolving the ongoing debate over party relations.