At a Glance

• The PUK Leadership Council concluded a high-stakes meeting.

• President Bafel Jalal Talabani is expected to release an official statement shortly.

• The meeting follows the election of the Kurdistan parliamentary presidency by fifty-two lawmakers.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Leadership Council has concluded its high-stakes meeting under the chairmanship of the party’sPresident Bafel Jalal Talabani to decide its stance following the parliamentary reactivation.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Channel8 has learned that Bafel Jalal Talabani is to release an official statement shortly.

• The meeting comes after the latest political developments and yesterday's election of the Kurdistan Region parliamentary presidency.

Members of the Political Bureau, senior government officials of the party, and ministers also attended today's meeting.

Meanwhile, a source from the meeting informed Channel8 that a decision has been made that must serve the best interests of the people of Kurdistan.

FYI

The Kurdistan Parliament reactivated at the request of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc and several other parties without major blocs present, with fifty-two lawmakers appointing Vala Fareed as Speaker, Rami Nouri as Deputy Speaker, and Muna Qahwachi as Secretary.

The thin turnout was triggered by a sweeping boycott from major rival political factions, most notably the PUK, which condemned the assembly as a unilateral move bypassing essential consensus.

Prior to the assembly call, the PUK fiercely attacked the session, labeling it "illegal" and a clear attempt to "impose the will of a single party."

Enforcing a comprehensive boycott, the PUK urged all national political factions concerned with regional stability to stay away from the session.

The party vowed to reject any authorities emerging from the vote, declaring that under a "puppet framework" fueled by bribery and psychological pressure, it will not recognize any resulting parliament or government.

The PUK is expected to formalize its policy stance against the parliamentary reactivation and outline the potential political pathways forward.

The October 20, 2024, Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections concluded with the KDP securing a 39-seat plurality and the PUK winning 23 seats.

While newly elected lawmakers were sworn in during the inaugural session on December 2 of that year, political divides blocked the parliament from electing a speaker or forming a formal legislative presidency.

The procedural gridlock sparked a prolonged political stalemate, leaving the two primary ruling parties unable to secure a power-sharing agreement for senior government roles and sovereign ministries.

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