At a Glance

• The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s Board of Government, Elected Councils and Universities held a meeting chaired by Samir Hawrami.

• The meeting reviewed political and administrative developments in the Kurdistan Region.

• Members emphasized preparations to implement PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani’s decision to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government.

• Channel 8 has learned that PUK officials holding government positions are expected to stop reporting to work as part of the withdrawal process.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s Board of Government, Elected Councils and Universities has reviewed preparations to implement the party’s decision to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government, following an earlier directive by PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani and its Leadership Council.

Key Statements and Focus Areas

Preparations for Government Withdrawal

The board met on Saturday, November 7, 2026, under the supervision of its head, Samir Hawrami, with members in attendance.

According to the meeting's account, participants discussed the latest political and administrative developments in the Kurdistan Region and stressed the need to take the necessary steps to implement the decision by the PUK president and Leadership Council to withdraw from the government.

PUK Officials Expected to Stop Reporting to Work

The PUK holds several senior positions within the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as in the presidency, government departments, commissions and other institutions.

Channel8 has learned that the party's Board of Government has begun taking steps toward withdrawal, with its officials expected to stop reporting to their positions from the beginning of the coming week in implementation of Talabani's decision.

Bafel Talabani Announces Withdrawal Decision

On November 5, following a meeting of the PUK Leadership Council, party President Bafel Jalal Talabani announced the decision to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government.

“This government has failed. Therefore, the very first decision of the leadership of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan following this thing is that, from this very minute, we are withdrawing from this failed government that calls itself the Kurdistan Government

The announcement followed a parliamentary development in which the Kurdistan Democratic Party, without the PUK, joined the New Generation Movement, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, Komal and other political forces in electing the parliament's presidency board.

The PUK is moving forward with preparations to withdraw its officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government, following the party leadership's decision to leave the current administration.

The latest meeting of the party's Board of Government, Elected Councils and Universities focused on the political and administrative situation in the Kurdistan Region and the arrangements required to implement the withdrawal decision.

The PUK holds a number of senior government positions and administrative posts across the Region's institutions. According to information obtained by Channel 8, officials affiliated with the party are expected to stop reporting to their positions at the beginning of the coming week.

The withdrawal decision was announced by Bafel Jalal Talabani on October 5, after a meeting of the PUK Leadership Council. He described the government as having failed and said the party would withdraw from it.

The announcement came amid political tensions following the election of the Kurdistan Parliament's presidency board without PUK participation. The KDP proceeded with the process alongside the New Generation Movement, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, Komal and other political groups.

FYI

The PUK's withdrawal could further complicate relations between the Kurdistan Region's two main governing parties and affect the functioning of the regional administration. The KDP and PUK have been central partners in successive Kurdistan Regional Government administrations, with political cooperation between them shaping government formation and institutional decision-making. The practical impact of the withdrawal will depend on which officials leave their posts, how vacant positions are handled and whether the two parties reach an understanding on future cooperation.

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