Sema
The meeting between Barzani and Talabani highlights the critical phase of cabinet negotiations, which have now advanced to the allocation of ministerial and key governmental posts.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is set to meet today (Monday, April 28, 2025) with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani in the Dukan resort area, in a crucial step toward finalizing the formation of the Kurdistan Region’s new cabinet.
The meeting between Barzani and Talabani highlights the critical phase the cabinet negotiations have entered after weeks of intensive dialogue. Senior delegations from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PUK have previously held multiple rounds of talks at both the leadership and lower committee levels to shape the next government. Negotiations have now progressed to the point of allocating ministerial and key governmental posts.
Party leaders from both sides have expressed their commitment to swiftly concluding the cabinet formation process, aiming to establish the new government within the coming weeks.
Today’s meeting in Dukan follows a significant two-stage round of discussions held on April 17 at the PUK’s Political Bureau in Sulaimani. That session included separate meetings between the parties’ committees and senior-level delegations, reflecting a concerted push to overcome remaining obstacles.
The KDP and PUK, the two dominant forces in Kurdish politics, traditionally share power in the KRG. However, cabinet formations often face prolonged negotiations due to disputes over portfolio distributions, security arrangements, and the administration of the Kurdistan Region’s provinces.
If successful, today’s meeting between Barzani and Talabani could mark a major breakthrough in strengthening political unity in the Kurdistan Region, enhancing internal stability, and boosting the Region’s capacity to manage complex relations with Baghdad and neighboring countries.