Kurdistan Region President in Baghdad for Talks on Government Formation and Erbil–Baghdad Disputes

Peregraf — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Monday for a series of high-level meetings with Iraqi political leaders, focusing on government formation and relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

Barzani began his visit with a meeting with leaders of the Coordination Framework at the residence of Nouri al-Maliki, former two-term Prime Minister of Iraq (2006–2014) and head of the State of Law Coalition.

According to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the visit aims to address key issues including the formation of the new federal government, ongoing disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, and other pressing national matters. 

Meetings With Iraqi Leadership 

Barzani is expected to meet with caretaker Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi to discuss steps toward forming a new cabinet.

He is also scheduled to hold talks with Sunni political leaders as part of broader consultations aimed at building consensus.

The delegation accompanying Barzani includes senior officials from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and is expected to remain in Baghdad for two days.

Visit Follows Zaidi's Erbil Trip

The visit comes shortly after Ali al-Zaidi traveled to Erbil on May 2, where he met with KDP President Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

During those talks, both sides claimed to emphasize accelerating government formation in line with constitutional timelines and resolving longstanding disputes between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region.

Al-Zaidi also called for opening a "new chapter" in Baghdad–Erbil relations and urged the KDP to return to participation in federal institutions.

Political Context

The KDP has been boycotting sessions of the Iraqi parliament and cabinet following the election of Nizar Amedi as President of Iraq on April 11, a process the party has refused to recognize, claiming it lacked Kurdish consensus. 

Barzani's visit is part of ongoing efforts to bridge political divides ahead of the formation of Iraq's next government.