Peregraf – The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has formed a senior delegation to negotiate with Iraqi political forces on forming the new federal government, emphasizing that Kurdish talks in Baghdad must be conducted from a unified national position, while stressing that issues related to the Kurdistan Region should be resolved first and separately from federal-level negotiations.
The KDP Central Committee convened on Thursday morning in Pirmam under the chairmanship of Masoud Barzani, president of the party. According to a statement issued after the meeting, discussions focused on the formation of both the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi federal government, with a decision to continue talks aimed at forming the tenth KRG cabinet.
“Our door is open for dialogue and agreement based on the results and entitlements of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections; the votes and trust of the people of Kurdistan must be respected,” the statement said.
The committee stressed that negotiations over forming the Kurdistan Regional Government should not be mixed with talks on forming the federal government in Baghdad. “We must first resolve the issues of the Region, then take the necessary and collective steps toward Baghdad. In this regard, our party’s delegation has already begun its work,” the statement added.
KDP media outlets reported that a delegation headed by Fazil Mirani, head of the administrative body of the KDP Political Bureau, has been formed to negotiate with Iraqi parties regarding the formation of the new federal cabinet. The delegation includes Fazil Mirani, Dr. Fuad Hussein, Nawzad Hadi, Dr. Omed Sabah, and Faris Isa.
The Central Committee underlined that it is the right of the people of Kurdistan for talks in Baghdad to be conducted “with a unified front as the Kurdish nation, rather than as individual political parties,” stressing that Kurdish unity is essential to safeguarding political gains and accelerating the government formation process.
The developments come as Iraqi Shia and Sunni political forces intensify negotiations following the Federal Supreme Court’s ratification of the final parliamentary election results, which has paved the way for the next constitutional steps, including convening the first session of the new parliament and initiating the government formation process.
According to informed Kurdish sources in Baghdad, Iraqi political forces have urged Kurdish parties to resolve their internal differences and avoid transferring disputes to the federal level, as delays in agreeing on senior positions could further complicate the formation of the new cabinet.
By political convention established after the fall of the former regime, key federal positions are distributed among Iraq’s main components. Within this framework, Kurdish parties play a decisive role in shaping the next phase of governance. However, Kurdish sources indicate that progress in Baghdad remains closely linked to broader agreements within the Kurdistan Region, particularly regarding power-sharing and the formation of the next KRG.
According to the certified election results, the KDP remains the leading political force in the Kurdistan Region, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Among opposition parties, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) has returned to the position of the third-largest party in the Region after a 15-year absence, while the Halwest (Stance) Movement recorded notable gains. The New Generation Movement emerged as the biggest loser in the latest elections.
Of the 46 seats allocated to the Kurdistan Region in the Iraqi Council of Representatives—two reserved for minority quotas—the remaining 44 seats were distributed as follows: Erbil (15 seats): KDP 9, PUK 3, Halwest 2, New Generation 1; Sulaymaniyah (18 seats): PUK 8, Halwest 3, New Generation 2, KDP 2, KIU 2, Komal 1; and Duhok (11 seats): KDP 9, KIU 2.
Overall, Kurdish parties secured 58 seats nationwide in the 329-member Iraqi parliament. The breakdown is as follows: KDP 27 seats, PUK 18, Halwest 5, KIU 4, New Generation 3, and Komal 1.