Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to begin withdrawal from the Kurdistan Regional Government tomorrow

The government team of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Iraq's Kurdistan Region announced on 7 November that the party will begin procedures to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government tomorrow.

The statement said: “We will begin the procedures of withdrawal from the government of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region tomorrow.”

PUK leader Bafel Talabani announced the decision to leave the government on 5 November in a video message issued after a meeting of the party leadership. Talabani said: “This government has failed.” The PUK holds several ministries and the post of deputy prime minister, which is held by Qubad Talabani.

The PUK took the step in protest against the reactivation of the Kurdistan parliament without the party's participation, and declared that parliament illegitimate. On 4 November, 52 of the 100 members attended a session, achieving a quorum for the first time since the opening session in December 2024; Vala Farid of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was elected speaker. The PUK boycotted the session.

The KDP, for its part, has said the reactivation of parliament was carried out through a legal and democratic process.

In the parliamentary elections held in October 2024, the KDP won 39 seats and the PUK 23. Since then, no new, tenth cabinet has been formed, and the cabinet formed in 2019 remains in office.