Bafel Talabani Says PUK-New Generation Alliance Equals KDP Strength, Demands Half of Next KRG Cabinet

Peregraf- Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said the party will sign a strategic agreement with the New Generation Movement (NGM) in the coming days, arguing that the alliance will give the two parties parliamentary strength equal to that of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and justify a demand for half of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet.

Speaking during events marking the 51st anniversary of the PUK's founding, Talabani said the alliance would be followed by outreach to other political parties in an effort to build a broader national front.

"We are ready to deal with numbers; we are 39 to 39, and we demand half of the government," Talabani said.

PUK-New Generation Alliance

The planned agreement follows months of political coordination between the PUK and New Generation after Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the New Generation Movement, was released on bail in January 2026 following approximately five months in detention.

Since then, the New Generation Movement has entered negotiations with the PUK aimed at coordinating positions on government formation and broader political issues.

The PUK currently holds 23 seats in the Kurdistan Parliament, while the New Generation Movement holds 15 seats. Talabani's calculation also appears to include support from political allies and minority representatives.

In the October 2024 parliamentary elections, the KDP won 39 seats, making it the largest party in parliament. The PUK secured 23 seats, the New Generation Movement 15, and the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) won seven seats.

Government Formation Remains Stalled

The announcement comes amid a prolonged political deadlock over the formation of the KRG's 10th cabinet.

Formal talks between the KDP and PUK have been suspended for nearly six months after roughly 20 rounds of negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

On May 26, 2026, Masoud Barzani, leader of the KDP and former President of the Kurdistan Region, called on Kurdish political parties to resume dialogue after Eid al-Adha and end the political paralysis affecting the Kurdistan Region.

Talabani's remarks suggest the PUK is preparing to enter any renewed negotiations from a position it considers equal to the KDP in parliamentary influence.

18 Months of Political Deadlock

The Kurdistan Region has remained without a functioning parliament and new government for more than 18 months since elections were held on October 20, 2024.

Although parliament convened for its inaugural session on December 2, 2024, lawmakers have not met again, leaving the legislature effectively inactive.

Disagreements between the KDP and PUK over power-sharing arrangements, parliamentary leadership positions, and cabinet formation have prevented the establishment of a new government.

The continued stalemate has blocked the election of parliament's leadership, delayed approval of a new cabinet and budget, and intensified criticism of the region's political institutions.