Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, stated that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is “ready” to restart government talks, stressing that the key issues and barriers to the process are having principled “partnership” and “balance” in the new cabinet.

“We are ready. I'm ready tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow,” Talabani, who is also a member of the PUK Political Bureau, told reporters on Sunday, adding that the party is ready to hold talks “whenever necessary.” 

He stressed that the PUK is “committed” to forming a new cabinet of government.

KRG Deadlock Persists Amid New Initiatives

The tenth government cabinet has yet to be formed following the 2024 parliamentary elections; despite holding several rounds of talks, the two major Kurdistan Region parties have achieved no breakthrough.

In recent weeks, to break the deadlock and political stalemate, the Kurdistan Islamic Union and the Kurdistan Justice Group separately presented initiatives and held several meetings with both parties, which welcomed the proposals.

PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani stressed in an Eid message last week the necessity of working together with a unified patriotic stance to resolve outstanding issues and build a more stable future. 

Simultaneously, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani urged political parties “to come together with patriotism and a sense of national pride” to resolve the current deadlock.

Qubad Talabani Calls for Balanced Governance to Resolve Impasse

Qubad Talabani further emphasized that the PUK welcomes “any initiative or step from any party aimed at resolving the current political impasse.” 

Regarding the inter-party disputes, he highlighted that, “The problem isn't meeting. The problem is whether all parties, the KDP and the PUK, understand that for this government to succeed it needs genuine partnership. It needs balance, coexistence, and cooperation.”

“Speaking for myself and on behalf of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan negotiating team, we fully recognize this reality,” he added. 

Talabani said that the issues between the PUK and the KDP are not “about posts, but rather about the philosophy of partnership, cooperation, coexistence, and joint governance.”