“Our Alliance With PUK Remains Active,” Shaswar Abdulwahid Says
At a Glance
- New Generation leader Shaswar Abdulwahid says his party's alliance with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) remains active.
- Abdulwahid says New Generation expects the PUK to remain committed to their agreement.
- He says the agreement discussed a balanced government, rather than explicitly committing New Generation to joining the cabinet.
- His comments come as negotiations continue over the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government's 10th cabinet.
New Generation Movement leader Shaswar Abdulwahid says his political alliance with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan remains active, while stressing that the agreement between the two sides does not require New Generation to join the next Kurdistan Regional Government cabinet.
Abdulwahid said his party expects the PUK to honor their agreement and called for clarity over the alliance's demand for a share of government power.
KEY STATEMENTS
“Our alliance with the PUK remains and is active,” Shaswar Abdulwahid said.
“We expect the PUK to remain committed to our agreement,” he added.
“It is not necessary for New Generation to enter the government,” Abdulwahid said.
“In our agreement with the PUK, we talked about a balanced government.”
Abdulwahid also said opposition forces should not attempt to organize or restructure relations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the PUK.
POWER-SHARING POSITION
Abdulwahid said the agreement with the PUK was intended to pursue what he described as fundamental change, rather than simply secure cabinet positions for New Generation.
He said the agreement did not include a commitment for New Generation to enter government, adding that his party's position remains linked to the broader political objectives outlined in the agreement.
Abdulwahid also said the PUK should state clearly that the alliance is seeking half of the Kurdistan Region's government administration.
PARLIAMENTARY BALANCE
The PUK holds 23 seats in the Kurdistan Parliament, while New Generation holds 15, giving their alliance 38 seats. The KDP holds 39 seats.
Abdulwahid said that if the KDP recognizes the alliance, the PUK could negotiate with the KDP from the alliance's position.
He also argued that political forces meeting separately with the KDP would represent only their own parliamentary seats.
GOVERNMENT FORMATION
The comments come amid continuing efforts to form the Kurdistan Region's 10th cabinet.
The PUK and New Generation signed their “Balance and Revitalization” agreement in July, establishing a coordinated political bloc in the Kurdistan Parliament and seeking to influence negotiations over the next government.
More recently, however, New Generation spokesperson Himdad Shaheen said the movement would not participate in the next KRG cabinet and would remain in opposition, despite the alliance with the PUK.
Separately, the KDP has said it has reached a fundamental understanding with the PUK on several core issues and that discussions are continuing to resolve remaining obstacles to reactivating parliament and forming the next cabinet.
FYI
The political equation has shifted since the 2024 Kurdistan parliamentary election, with the KDP holding 39 seats and the PUK–New Generation bloc holding 38. While the two parties have coordinated their parliamentary position, New Generation's stated intention to remain in opposition creates a distinction between maintaining the alliance and joining a future cabinet
The latest comments therefore point to two parallel issues in the government-formation process: the future of the PUK–New Generation agreement and the separate negotiations required to establish the next KRG cabinet.
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