Sema
According to Pira, a core demand of the KDP is a unified political framework encompassing a single parliament, a single government, and a unified Peshmerga force, which the PUK agrees with and views as essential for establishing an effective and stable administration.
Talks between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are making significant progress toward forming the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), according to Saadi Pira, spokesperson for the PUK.
“The KDP and PUK delegations successfully narrowed 90% of their differences during negotiations, and the remaining 10% was resolved in a meeting between KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and PUK Leader Bafel Jalal Talabani,” Pira told Kurdistan24, emphasizing that this final discussion yielded positive and constructive results.
“The new KRG cabinet must exercise authority across all areas of the Kurdistan Region,” Pira stated, underscoring that both the KDP and PUK remain open to the participation of other political entities in the government formation process. However, he noted that these other parties have yet to take an active role.
According to Pira, a core demand of the KDP is a unified political framework encompassing a single parliament, a single government, and a unified Peshmerga force. The PUK agrees on the importance of these principles and views them as essential for establishing an effective and stable administration. Both parties believe that further negotiations will ultimately lead to a mutually beneficial agreement, with no insurmountable obstacles remaining.
On Sunday, March 16, 2025, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani convened in ERbil’s Pirmam district to advance discussions. Following their meeting, they addressed the media jointly, projecting optimism about the political process.
Talabani described the discussions as highly constructive, revealing that the two sides reached agreements on several strategic issues crucial to the well-being of the Kurdish people. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing negotiations to ensure the successful formation of the government.
“Our shared goal is to establish a government that serves our people,” Talabani remarked. “However, I believe the initial questions should be directed to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.”
In response, Prime Minister Barzani welcomed Talabani’s participation in the dialogue and highlighted the progress made. “We have held two very positive meetings, fostering greater understanding on key issues that matter to the people of Kurdistan and the broader region,” he stated. “We are optimistic that our teams can build upon this momentum and reach a comprehensive agreement on government formation soon. The people of Kurdistan should be reassured by the progress in our talks.”
With negotiations moving forward in a spirit of cooperation, hopes remain high for the timely establishment of a unified and functional KRG cabinet that can address the pressing political and economic challenges facing the region.