Kurdish parties struggle to form government in Iraqi Kurdistan

Efforts to establish a new government in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region remain stalled as the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) fail to agree on key leadership positions following the 20 October parliamentary elections. 

This political deadlock has cast uncertainty over the region’s governance and exacerbated public discontent amid ongoing economic challenges.

The elections saw a voter turnout of 72 percent, with five of the 100 parliamentary seats reserved for minority groups and the remaining 95 contested among Kurdish factions. 

The results renewed the traditional power-sharing arrangement between the KDP and PUK, who have jointly ruled the Kurdistan Region since it achieved semi-autonomy in 1991. However, unresolved tensions between the two dominant parties have obstructed the cabinet formation process.

On 3 December, the Kurdistan Parliament convened its inaugural session for the sixth term, but lawmakers failed to elect a speaker, two deputies, and a secretary—positions essential to formal parliamentary operations. 

Once these leadership positions are filled, the parliament will elect a regional president, who will task the KDP with forming a new government. However, political divisions between the two ruling factions have delayed this constitutional process indefinitely.

Power-sharing dispute

The KDP, which secured 39 seats, aims to retain control of both the presidency and the premiership, positions currently held by Nechirvan Barzani and Masrour Barzani of the influential Barzani family. Meanwhile, the PUK, which won 23 seats, is pressing for a more equitable distribution of power, including control over key ministries such as the Interior Ministry.

Awat Khairullah, an advanced PUK cadre, spoke to The New Arab about the ongoing negotiations. “On Wednesday morning, the joint committee of the PUK and KDP is set to meet once again to finalise the draft they have been working on for nearly two months. This draft is being prepared for the future government of the Kurdistan Region, with intense negotiations ongoing between the two parties to establish the government,” he said.

Khairullah further elaborated, “The joint committee has nearly completed its tasks, and Wednesday’s meeting might be the final one. Efforts are being made to finish the draft this week. However, there are still some outstanding differences that may require the higher negotiation committee to reach a final resolution.”

“Until now, there has been no mention of post allocation during meetings of the high-level delegations or discussions between the PUK president, Bafel Talabani, and the KRG Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani. Any claims about post allocations being discussed are mere propaganda. However, the PUK insists on being a real partner in the government this time, rather than a weak participant. This insistence might delay the government’s formation, but it is expected that the process will be completed by early April,” he added.

Khairullah stressed that if the PUK and KDP fail to agree on a government programme, the PUK will not join a government that resembles the experience of the ninth cabinet, which failed to serve the cities equitably. 

“In the upcoming KRG cabinet, after reaching an agreement with the KDP and determining roles and posts, the PUK plans to appoint competent individuals to appropriate positions. Until that time, the PUK will not unilaterally nominate any candidates from within its ranks for governmental posts,” he concluded.

The New Generation Movement, led by Shaswar Abdul Wahid, emerged as a significant opposition force, winning 15 seats. The party has proposed a reform-driven roadmap for power-sharing, demanding that the KRG premiership be separated from other senior offices and ministry portfolios.

Abdul Wahid recently revealed that the KDP offered six ministerial portfolios to his party, an offer he declined. In a press conference, he confirmed that the New Generation Movement would not join the government for now.

Meanwhile, other opposition groups, including the Kurdistan Justice Group (KJG) and the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), The National Stance, and the People’s Front, have rejected the election results, alleging voter fraud.

These claims, dismissed by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and the ruling parties, have further undermined confidence in the political process.

Economic and governance challenges

The prolonged political stalemate has exacerbated economic issues in the Kurdistan Region. Public sector employees, including teachers, have gone on strike over delayed salary payments, demanding that the KRG pay them their December wages. Essential services remain strained, compounding frustrations among residents.

Adding to these challenges is the ongoing dispute between the KRG and Baghdad over oil revenues. A federal court ruling mandates that all Kurdish oil exports must be handled by Iraq’s State Marketing Oil Company, aiming to centralise revenues under federal oversight. However, Kurdish authorities have resisted compliance, intensifying tensions with Baghdad.

The political deadlock reflects the fragility of the region’s power-sharing structure, which mirrors Iraq’s sectarian governance model established after the 2003 US- and UK-led invasion and occupation. The presidency is traditionally reserved for Kurds, the premiership for Shia Arabs, and the speakership for Sunni Arabs. Within this framework, the PUK holds Iraq’s presidency, while the KDP controls the Kurdistan presidency.

Sources close to the negotiations told TNA in November that cabinet formation could be delayed until after Iraq‘s 2025 federal elections, further prolonging uncertainty. 

Observers warn that ongoing political and economic instability could destabilise the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.