11-05-2025
Push for unified Kurdish opposition bloc set back by key group's withdrawal
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish opposition parties say they held 'positive' meetings in Sulaimani for the second consecutive day on Sunday, as efforts continue to form a unified alliance for Iraq's upcoming federal elections. However, in a surprising turn, the National Stance Movement (Halwest) announced its withdrawal from the talks, accusing some parties of engaging in separate talks with Baghdad.
The meetings brought together several opposition parties including: the Shaswar Abdulwahid-led New Generation Movement, Salahadin Bahadin's Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), Ali Bapir's Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), the Ali Hama Saleh's Halwest, and the Lahur Talabany-led People's Front (Baray Gal).
In the Kurdistan Region's October legislative elections, the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by Masoud Barzani, won 39 of the 100 parliamentary seats, followed by the Bafel Talabani-led Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) with 23. Opposition parties saw more modest results: New Generation won 15 seats, KIU seven, Halwest four, Komal three, and Baray Gal two.
Sunday's meeting, hosted at Halwest's headquarters in Sulaimani, appeared productive until Halwest leader Ali Hama Saleh abruptly announced the movement's exit from the coalition talks.
'We, the Halwest Movement, formally announce that we will not enter a coalition and list with people…who are not worthy of our trust, and surely the trust of the people of Kurdistan,' Saleh said at a press conference.
'After comprehensive talks… it became apparent that there is no [clear] nationalistic agenda,' Saleh said, adding that 'while some parties were holding talks with us, they were simultaneously engaging in talks with Iraq [Baghdad government] about [their] participation in the [upcoming Iraqi] government.'
The announcement contrasted with earlier statements from Halwest officials suggesting progress.
Hours before Saleh's remarks, the movement's spokesperson, Bakhtiyar Shawais, stated that 'the meetings are going very well and there is an understanding [in the making].'
Senior Halwest member, Rebwar Karim, had also stated, 'We proposed nominating 30 prominent figures from across Kurdistan and the disputed territories,instead of having party candidates [run] in the Iraqi legislative elections.'
'We, as the Halwest movement, are ready to forgo fielding our own candidates,' Karim added, emphasizing the movement's willingness to prioritize coalition unity.
"Plans are underway to determine the future actions of this coalition in Iraq, with most parties favouring its continuation after the elections,' he said.
In a similar vein, former Kurdistan Region parliament speaker, Yousif Mohammed - who also attended the Sunday meeting - remarked that 'some discussions have been held' and that 'in general, the situation is positive.'
On Saturday, the Kurdish opposition parties had also met at the KIU's headquarters in Sulaimani.
During the meeting, Halwest presented its 'People's Alliance' project - a proposed roadmap for both the formation and future direction of the coalition.
Halwest stressed the importance of establishing a unified front but expressed concern over the coalition's direction after the 2025 federal elections.
'We should not just aim to [benefit from] collecting each other's votes,' Halwest cautioned, expressing support for backing the candidacy of 30 independent and influential figures who would be jointly supported by all of the anticipated alliance's members.
Meanwhile, the New Generation Movement - which holds the most seats among the opposition parties - in a Sunday statement on Facebook, asserted its right to lead the anticipated coalition.
However, it offered to give up that entitlement to foster unity.
'While most [of the opposition] parties have recognized the New Generation's right to lead, we give up that right to you [opposition parties] in the interest of the coalition's success and as a sign of respect.'
New Generation further expressed support for joining Iraq's next federal government, arguing that the 'entire Kurdish share' in Baghdad should not be left solely to the KDP and PUK. However, it stressed that any decision to join the government must be reached by coalition consensus.
Since early May, Kurdish opposition parties have been working toward forming a united front ahead of the November 2025 legislative elections, seemingly aiming to challenge the Kurdish ruling parties at the federal level.
Shadman Hassan, a member of the Lahur Talabany-led People's Front, Baray Gal, told Rudaw that the alliance seeks to consolidate Kurdish opposition votes and is open to cooperation with any group except the KDP and the PUK.
Although the Kurdish opposition parties initially planned to announce the date of their next meeting on Sunday, Halwest's abrupt withdrawal has cast uncertainty over when - or if - the meeting will take place.
