At a Glance

• PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani directed his parliamentary bloc to form specialized committees to report public service deficiencies directly to leadership.

• The party's ministerial and administrative teams will resume official duties across Slemani, Halabja, Garmian, and Raparin starting November 8.

• Three PUK lawmakers who broke ranks to attend the parliamentary session have been removed from the party's legislative bloc. 

A Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) lawmaker detailed their Saturday meeting with party President Bafel Jalal Talabani, stating that the parliamentary bloc will form specialized committees to report administrative and public service deficiencies directly to leadership.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Azad Mohammed Amin, a member of the PUK parliamentary bloc in the Kurdistan Region Parliament, told Channel8 that the party's government team will resume official duties in Slemani starting on November 8. 

• Amin stressed that Talabani expressed his full support for the PUK parliamentary bloc. 

• He noted that during the meeting, Talabani reiterated that the party will under no circumstances recognize that recent controversial parliamentary session.

Speaking to Channel8 regarding Saturday's meeting, Amin said the PUK President announced that starting Sunday, November 8, the PUK ministerial and administrative team within the government will report to duty across the Slemani and Halabja governorates, as well as the independent administrations of Garmian and Raparin, to run the affairs of this region and maximize public services for citizens.

According to the lawmaker, Talabani emphasized that this specific region has been heavily deprived and treated unfairly regarding the provision of public services. 

The PUK leader cited the town of Chamchamal as a prime example, highlighting that despite suffering thousands of casualties and martyrs, and acting as the source of natural gas, 24-hour electricity, and household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for the entire Kurdistan Region, it has been deprived of necessary infrastructure and public services. 

Talabani emphasized that no compromises will be made regarding the PUK’s conditions following recent parliamentary developments, declaring that the party will independently administer its own region.

Elaborating on the issued decisions and directives, the PUK lawmaker explained that it was resolved that bloc members will henceforth participate directly in the meetings of the PUK Leadership Council. 

Furthermore, the PUK parliamentary bloc will form specialized committees to follow up on all suspended projects and grievances affecting the populations of Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, Garmian, and Raparin.

The lawmaker noted that the caretaker Prime Minister routinely halted all development projects previously submitted by Qubad Talabani and PUK ministers to the Council of Ministers for execution. 

Consequently, Talabani instructed the parliamentary bloc to establish specialized committees across all sectors to report local deficiencies directly to him, enabling step-by-step solutions based on available financial resources. 

Amin stated that while formal measures have not yet been announced, the three PUK lawmakers who broke ranks to attend the parliamentary session are definitely no longer part of the bloc, adding that their accountability will be a matter of settlement with the KDP during any future negotiations.

FYI

The Kurdistan Region Parliament convened last Wednesday to elect its presidium, reactivating a chamber that had been inactive since lawmakers were sworn in on December 2, 2024. 

This flashpoint session was organized by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) alongside minority quota allies following the October 20, 2024, general elections. 

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) fiercely opposed the assembly, branding the vote as an illegal act of political strong-arming that completely ignored the principles of a genuine partnership. 

In direct response, PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani issued an absolute non-recognition of the newly elected presidium and ordered his party's ministerial team to withdraw from the broader government administration.

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