Slemani — Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani has acknowledged the existence of what he described as a “dual administration” in the Region, arguing that internal divisions and parallel governance structures continue to hinder institutional development and the rule of law.
In an interview with the PUK-affiliated Kurdsat News, Talabani said the current situation reflects deep flaws in the region’s governing system, citing the presence of checkpoints and customs controls between different areas of the Kurdistan Region.
“Today, unfortunately, there is effectively a dual administration,” Talabani said. “Many people might not want to admit this, but we have a dual administration right now.”
He pointed to what he described as internal borders separating different parts of the region, saying the existence of customs checkpoints between them demonstrates the persistence of administrative fragmentation.
“There is a border between this side and that side. There is a customs checkpoint between this side and that side,” he said. “This in itself shows that there is a flaw in this system.”
Talabani stressed that he supports the establishment of a unified administration across the Kurdistan Region, but one governed by clear legal and constitutional frameworks rather than political arrangements.
The deputy prime minister also criticized the absence of key legislative frameworks, noting that the Kurdistan Region has operated without a budget law since 2013. He called for the adoption of laws that clearly define the responsibilities of institutions and a regional constitution that would establish checks on political authority.
“We need an administration regulated by law, where we have a budget, a law that defines things, and a constitution for the Kurdistan Region that limits the authorities of us all,” Talabani said.
The remarks come amid longstanding debates over governance, institutional reform, and power-sharing in the Kurdistan Region, where political rivals have faced repeated challenges in fully integrating administrative structures and implementing long-discussed constitutional and legal reforms.
