Shaswar Abdulwahid to Settle New Generation’s Position on Next KRG Cabinet, Faction Says

Peregraf – The New Generation (Naway Nwe) bloc in the Kurdistan Parliament says it has not yet decided whether it will participate in the formation of the Kurdistan Region’s long-delayed tenth government cabinet, rejecting widespread rumors that the movement has already taken a position.

In a press conference today, Kurdawan Jamal, head of the New Generation parliamentary bloc, stressed that the final word will come from the movement’s president, Shaswar Abdulwahid, who remains imprisoned in Sulaymaniyah.

"The decision on this matter will be settled by the President of the New Generation Movement, Mr. Shaswar, from prison; whatever decision he makes, we will implement it exactly as it is," Jamal said.

The statement comes amid heightened speculation that New Generation may join a new cabinet of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) led by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), potentially breaking the yearlong political deadlock. At the same time, some observers believe the movement may be using negotiations as leverage against the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), with whom it has tense relations. The movement maintains that Abdulwahid’s arrest is political—a claim strongly denied by judicial and governmental authorities.

On Friday, the movement’s executive body held a meeting with its parliamentary bloc. A statement from the meeting, shared with Peregraf, affirmed that "whatever decision the movement and the movement’s president make from prison, everyone will abide by it."

Information obtained by Peregraf indicates that New Generation has held internal discussions about the possibility of joining the tenth cabinet, though no final conclusion has been reached. The tone of today’s statement suggests internal debate remains active.

Steep Drop in Vote Share
The discussions come as New Generation grapples with a major decline in electoral support. The movement won 123,376 votes in the 2025 election—a 57.8% drop from the 292,032 votes it secured in 2024.

According to the movement’s statement, Friday’s meeting also addressed public concerns, including unpaid salaries, the ongoing financial crisis, and mechanisms for monitoring government revenue and spending. The movement said its factions in Erbil and Baghdad are preparing "a solid project for a radical solution" to salary and regional revenue issues.

New KRG Cabinet Formation Deadlock Enters Second Year
More than a year has passed since the October 20, 2024 parliamentary elections, and the KDP and PUK have yet to reach an agreement on senior posts—stalling formation of the tenth cabinet. The New Generation Movement previously demanded either the premiership or all ministerial portfolios as conditions for joining the government.

If New Generation softens its demands and sides with the KDP, it could give the party enough seats to form a cabinet without the PUK. A simple majority of 51 seats is needed. The KDP holds 39 seats, along with three aligned minority seats, totaling 42. New Generation’s 15 seats would bring the combined total to 57.

Despite the parliament’s first session convening in December 2024, it has been unable to reconvene. The session remains open because electing a parliamentary presidium requires KDP–PUK agreement, which remains elusive.

Election Results and Political Landscape
The KDP emerged from the 2024 election as the largest party with 39 seats, followed by the PUK with 23. New Generation secured 15 seats, while the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) won 7. Smaller parties and minority representatives took the remaining seats, with three minority seats aligned with the KDP and two with the PUK.

Seven opposition parties—excluding New Generation—reject the election results, calling them fraudulent. The Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) has already announced a boycott of the full parliamentary term. The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission has dismissed claims of widespread fraud.

This broad rejection of the results has further complicated government formation, as several opposition parties face public pressure not to align with the KDP.

Coalition Between KDP and PUK Still the Most Likely Outcome
Despite deep political divisions, a KDP–PUK coalition remains the most plausible path forward. Together with their aligned minority seats, the two parties control 67 seats in the 100-member parliament.

However, neither party can govern alone, and alternative partnerships remain limited. Most opposition parties refuse to join the cabinet, while New Generation continues to set conditions for its participation.

If the movement shifts its stance, the balance of power could shift decisively toward the KDP—potentially clearing the way for a new cabinet after more than a year of political paralysis.

For now, the future of the tenth KRG cabinet remains uncertain, with its fate increasingly tied to whether New Generation chooses to break the deadlock or capitalize on its leverage.