Slemani — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Jalal Talabani met with Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) Secretary-General Salahaddin Muhammad Bahaaddin in Slemani on Monday, where the two leaders discussed the latest political developments in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq amid ongoing negotiations over the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s next cabinet.
Talabani visited Bahaaddin to offer condolences following the death of the KIU leader’s brother. The meeting was also attended by Shalaw Kosrat Rasul and Salar Lala Sarhad, head of the PUK’s Kurdistan Relations Board.
According to a statement released following the meeting, both sides exchanged views on current political developments and emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation among political parties during a sensitive period for the Kurdistan Region.
The meeting comes as negotiations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PUK over the formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government remain unresolved months after the parliamentary elections. Differences between the two ruling parties over the distribution of key government positions, power-sharing arrangements, and administrative authority have slowed efforts to form a new cabinet.
Against this backdrop, the PUK has intensified consultations with other political parties, including the KIU, which remains one of the region’s influential opposition and Islamic political forces. Political observers view such meetings as part of broader efforts by parties to strengthen alliances and coordinate positions as discussions over the next government continue.
During the meeting, Talabani praised Bahaaddin’s political role and his longstanding efforts to bridge differences among political actors in the Kurdistan Region.
Both leaders also stressed the importance of strengthening relations between the PUK and the KIU, describing closer cooperation as essential for promoting political stability, unity, and constructive dialogue among the region’s political parties.
While no specific agreements were announced, the discussions highlighted the continued engagement of Kurdish political forces as negotiations over the formation of the Kurdistan Region’s next government remain ongoing.
The Kurdistan Parliament has yet to complete several key steps related to the formation of the new government, and political leaders continue to hold consultations aimed at breaking the deadlock and reaching a broader consensus on the composition of the next cabinet.
