Slemani — A senior official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has called on the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to recognize what he described as the current political realities in the Kurdistan Region and to ensure all parties receive their electoral share in the process of forming the next Kurdistan Regional Government.
Speaking during a televised interview on the Rudaw Media Network, Rizgar Haji Hama, a member of the PUK Political Bureau, said his party has made extensive efforts to facilitate the formation of a new government and preserve political stability in the Kurdistan Region.Haji Hama argued that the KDP does not possess a parliamentary majority sufficient to govern alone and therefore requires cooperation from other political parties.“The current equation resulting from the Kurdistan parliamentary elections is not 50 plus one,” he said. “The KDP needs other political forces and parties. Out of 100 parliamentary seats, the KDP holds 39 seats, while the remaining 61 belong to other parties.”The PUK official also defended the recent political understanding between the PUK and the New Generation Movement, describing it as a positive development aimed at strengthening governance and broadening political participation.“The agreement between the New Generation and the PUK is unproblematic,” Haji Hama said, adding that he would have preferred broader efforts to include additional political parties such as the Kurdistan Islamic Union and the Kurdistan Justice Group in discussions surrounding government formation.He further argued that some parties have been reluctant to join the government because they believe they would not be granted meaningful authority within the administration.Addressing wider political challenges facing the Kurdistan Region, Haji Hama said cooperation among all political parties is necessary to tackle key issues, including relations with Baghdad, budget disputes, and legislation concerning oil and gas.He stressed that political consensus would also be important in dealings with the federal government, noting that support from parliamentarians representing different parties could be needed on major national issues in the coming months.Commenting on an initiative proposed by Masoud Barzani to help break the political deadlock in the Kurdistan Region, Haji Hama described the proposal as “important and positive.”However, he said the initiative’s success would depend on practical support from the KDP during negotiations.“The KDP must support this initiative not only through statements but through concrete actions at the negotiating table,” he said.Haji Hama added that the PUK remains ready to resume dialogue and supports efforts aimed at advancing the interests of the people of Kurdistan and strengthening the Kurdistan Region’s political institutions.The remarks come as negotiations over the formation of a new Kurdistan Regional Government continue following the parliamentary elections, with political parties seeking consensus on power-sharing arrangements and key policy priorities.
