Latest news with #PUK
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Golden Jubilee: PUK's 50-year legacy faces a test of relevance
Shafaq News/ The 50th anniversary of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), once a defining moment in the Kurdish national movement, arrived this week not with a triumphant celebration, but with quiet introspection and visible fractures. The golden jubilee, marked in al-Sulaymaniyah under the leadership of Bafel Talabani, son of the party's iconic founder Jalal Talabani, underscored both generational transition and growing uncertainty. Rather than a grand spectacle evoking past struggles and victories, the anniversary gathering took a more subdued form. Founding slogans were absent. Veteran leaders, long symbolic of the party's revolutionary legacy, were not present. And what remained was a younger leadership grappling with internal divisions, shifting alliances, and the formidable challenge of political relevance in a rapidly evolving Kurdistan Region. From Unity to Fragmentation Since its founding in 1975, the PUK has played a central role in shaping Kurdish and Iraqi politics, particularly after 2003. But that influence has waned since the death of Jalal Talabani in 2017. The transition to Bafel Talabani's leadership has been accompanied by sweeping changes in the party's internal structure—some described by allies as necessary modernization, and others by critics as centralization and exclusion. Prominent figures like Lahur Sheikh Jangi, once co-chair with Bafel, have been ousted amid internal disputes. Other influential veterans such as Mala Bakhtiyar, Mahmoud Sangawi, and Barham Salih have seen their roles curtailed. For many observers, this signals a fundamental shift in how the PUK defines leadership and legitimacy. Karzan Murad, an academic speaking to Shafaq News, argued that these developments reveal a deeper structural change. 'The party was once a collective leadership with strong personalities balancing each other out. Now, decision-making appears increasingly centered around a narrow circle.' Murad also noted that Bafel's recent visit to the US failed to secure meetings with senior officials—unlike his political rival PM Masrour Barzani of the KDP, who was received at the highest levels. "That contrast is telling," he added. PUK's traditionally close ties with Iran have also weakened. While Tehran once prioritized relations with Al-Sulaymaniyah-based leaders, it now engages more directly with the KDP, as seen in Nechirvan Barzani's prominent receptions in the Iranian capital, Murad said. Generational Change or Institutional Drift? Not everyone views the changes as negative. Delshad Namq, a political commentator, believes what the PUK is undergoing is an inevitable generational handover. 'No political party can be frozen in time,' he said. 'At some point, legacy has to make room for evolution.' But others, like longtime party member Hasan Rawi, warn that the current approach risks alienating both the base and international partners. 'Excluding historical figures removes a key source of institutional memory. International actors now view the party as adrift,' Rawi noted, citing a perceived lack of strategic vision and clarity. Researcher Badr Ismail Sherwaki echoed that concern, highlighting what he described as a growing disconnect between the party leadership and its traditional support base. 'Kurdish politics is personal. It's about loyalty to individuals, not just institutions. Without charismatic figures who command trust, it's unclear what fills the vacuum,' he said. Eroding Ground in Al-Sulaymaniyah Nowhere is the impact of these internal struggles more visible than in the party's heartland: Al-Sulaymaniyah. Once a stronghold, the city is increasingly fragmented. Lahur Sheikh Jangi has launched a new political movement—Berey Gel (People's Front)—which is gaining traction, especially among younger voters disillusioned with both the PUK's recent performance and its leadership disputes. This is reminiscent of the rise of the Gorran (Change) Movement in the early 2000s, which also tapped into frustration over stagnation and exclusion. Meanwhile, the PUK has lost political initiative in key regional matters. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) now leads most negotiations with Baghdad and has a firmer grip on sensitive files like energy and budget policy. With Kurdistan's political weight shifting westward to Erbil, the PUK risks becoming a reactive rather than proactive actor. The Leadership's Defense Bafel Talabani and his team argue that the changes should be seen as a necessary transformation rather than a betrayal of legacy. Senior PUK official Burhan Sheikh Rauf told Shafaq News that veteran voices are still respected and consulted through the party's High Council of Interests and that the reorganization is aimed at future-proofing the party. At a rally in al-Sulaymaniyah Stadium, Bafel Talabani struck a conciliatory tone. While honoring the party's history through visual tributes to figures like Jalal Talabani, his speech emphasized present-day challenges and the need for pragmatism. He reiterated that the PUK is still respected in Baghdad and remains a balancing force in Kurdistan's delicate political ecosystem, pointing to the party's continued support for regional Kurdish rights and its role in peace efforts with Ankara. Yet, some analysts believe this rhetorical balancing act may not be enough. Without delivering on core issues—public sector salaries, governance reforms, and tangible influence in Baghdad—the PUK's claim to relevance may ring hollow. Between Legacy and Uncertainty Established with a leftist identity that fused Kurdish nationalism with socialism, the PUK now finds itself navigating a complex terrain. Rather than a moment of glory, the 50th anniversary became a mirror held up to the party itself. It reflected nostalgia, fractures, and above all, a test: Can the PUK reinvent itself without losing its soul? Or will it become yet another legacy movement weighed down by the very history it once proudly authored?
Rudaw Net
10 hours ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
KDP hosts meeting with Kurdish parties as tensions with Baghdad escalate
Also in Kurdistan Erbil authorities destroy over 8,000 vape devices in ongoing crackdown New marketing book touts Iraq as prime destination for global investment Human remains found at Zakho construction site Kurdistan parties say will pursue dialogue with Baghdad over funding A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is hosting a meeting of several Kurdish political parties on Saturday as tensions escalate with Baghdad over salaries and energy deals, though key opposition parties declined to attend. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party (KSDP), Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), Kurdistan Communist Party, and the Kurdsat wing of the Change Movement (Gorran) are all attending the meeting in Pirmam, Erbil province. But major opposition parties such as the New Generation Movement - the strongest opposition party in the Kurdistan Region - the National Stance Movement (Halwest), the People's Front (Baray Gal), the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), and the Zargata wing of Gorran refused to attend. Tensions between Baghdad and Erbil escalated after the Iraqi finance ministry on Wednesday announced that it would no longer send the Kurdistan Region's financial entitlements from the federal budget, including the salaries of over one million civil servants of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Baghdad accused Erbil of failing to hand over its oil and non-oil revenues and claimed that the KRG has received its full share of the federal budget for 2025. The Iraqi government has paid the salaries of the KRG's civil servants for the first four months this year, but the finance ministry's announcement raises questions about what will happen for the remainder of the year. The KDP warned Baghdad on Thursday that it would take a 'serious stance' if it fails to pay the May salaries by June 6, which coincides with the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha. Kawa Mahmood, secretary-general of the Kurdistan Communist Party, told Rudaw on Saturday that the meeting in Pirmam 'is a start to confronting the challenges and parties should not be an obstacle to forming an internal Kurdistani dialogue.' He said that the political parties should follow the lead of the Kurdish bloc in the Iraqi parliament that issued a joint statement condemning the federal government's stance. 'It is encouraging that all Kurdish factions in the Iraqi parliament took a unified position regarding the salary issue. This creates a good ground for us to be able to form a unified national position,' Mahmood said. Shakhawan Abdullah, deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament and a KDP member, said on Thursday that it is time for Kurds to withdraw from the Iraqi government. The KDP is a member of Iraq's governing State Administration Coalition, which includes the Shiite-led Coordination Framework, the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance, and the PUK. The KDP, PUK, New Generation, KIU, and Komal issued a joint statement on Thursday calling on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to "intervene urgently to release the salaries of employees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and not to link citizens' rights to any political or technical disputes." They said that payment of salaries "is not a favor but a constitutional and humanitarian entitlement… and delaying or stopping it is considered a collective punishment borne only by the employee. We also demanded a radical and permanent solution to the salary problem." The finance ministry's decision to cease payments to Erbil came on the heels of the KRG inking two new oil and gas deals with American firms, drawing the ire of Iraq's oil ministry, which said all energy deals must go through Baghdad and has taken legal action against the KRG. Ranja Jamal contributed to this report.
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
PUK's head urges Baghdad to resolve Kurdistan salaries
Shafaq News/ The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) head Bafel Talabani said on Sunday that he has been in direct contact with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to address the ongoing salary crisis for public employees in the Kurdistan Region. Speaking at an event in al-Sulaymaniyah marking the PUK's 50th anniversary, Talabani said, 'I have spoken with al-Sudani about the salary payments for Kurdistan employees, and we are awaiting a solution to this issue.' The salary dispute has been a persistent source of tension between Erbil and Baghdad. The federal government's recent decision to halt salary disbursements to the Region's employees has fueled criticism in Kurdistan and raised concerns over the economic well-being of thousands of families. Talabani emphasized that the PUK continues to play a balancing role in Kurdistan and is viewed with respect both in Baghdad and across the Region. 'The Kurdish people have no issue with our Arab brothers, and the PUK is committed to resolving disputes with Baghdad,' he said. Addressing regional issues, Talabani highlighted the PUK's role in the peace process in Turkiye, saying, 'The PUK has an important role to play in this process and is capable of defending the rights of the Kurdish people.'
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan Parliament's dissolution: PUK calls for unified approach
Shafaq News/ The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) rejects any unilateral attempt to dissolve the Kurdistan Region's parliament, party spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira stated on Tuesday. The statement comes as Iraq's Federal Supreme Court prepares to review a lawsuit on July 6 seeking to annul the 2024 election results and recover financial entitlements granted to current lawmakers, raising tensions among Kurdish factions. ' Parliament represents multiple political forces—no single party can dissolve it alone,' Pira told Shafaq News during a briefing in Erbil. He also noted that negotiations with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on forming the next regional government are nearing conclusion, though no final agreement has been reached. Following PUK leader Bafel Talabani's return from the United States, the party's political bureau met to assess regional developments, including the conflict in Syria and Turkiye's evolving peace process. The leadership urged better institutional stability amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and emphasized the Region's strategic role. 'Kurdistan must be prepared to support Kurdish interests across the region. That requires a functioning parliament and government,' Pira said.
Shafaq News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
PUK leader expresses hope for agreement on new Kurdish government
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Jalal Talabani voiced optimism that talks with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) could yield a breakthrough in forming the next Kurdish government. The remarks came during a meeting with British Consul General Andrew Beasley at his residence in Dabashan, where they discussed key issues related to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, underscoring 'the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation among political actors to overcome current challenges,' according to a statement. The meeting also addressed Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections, with both sides stressing the need for a transparent and fair electoral process. Earlier, senior PUK official Darbaz Kosrat Rasul dismissed the '50-50' power-sharing model as no longer viable, while affirming that negotiations with the KDP are still ongoing. On May 15, KDP leader Masoud Barzani warned against forming a government based on equal division of power and advocated for a unified government with a single parliament and a consolidated Peshmerga force, stating that not forming a government would be preferable to adopting a divisive model.
