PUK Launches Election Campaign in Sulaymaniyah, Talabani Vows Reform and Stronger Ties With Baghdad

Peregraf- The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) officially launched its election campaign today in Sulaymaniyah, introducing its candidates for Iraq’s November parliamentary elections. In a speech to supporters, PUK President Bafel Talabani stressed that forming a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) would only be possible if it guarantees change.

"A government will never be established in Kurdistan until we are certain that it is a government that will not repeat the mistakes of the past and will give us the opportunity to serve you," Talabani said.

In what appeared to be an indirect response to Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani—who declared at his party’s Erbil rally that the KDP "no longer has rivals in Kurdistan"—Talabani told his audience: "Don’t listen to anyone. We have no other rival, it is just us."

The PUK leader added that the party’s greatest competitor is itself: "We do not have opponents and enemies, but we have a very strong rival, which is the PUK itself. It is a party that led a revolution, overthrew Saddam, liberated the Kurds, introduced the Kurds to the world, liberated Kirkuk twice, overthrew Al-Qaeda, and destroyed ISIS."

Presenting the PUK as a party committed to reform, Talabani vowed to confront corruption in both Kurdistan and Iraq. He reminded supporters that the party had boosted its vote share significantly in the last election but urged them to deliver even stronger support: "Last time, our votes increased by 93%, but I am not satisfied, I want more."

The PUK campaign slogan, "We Are Your Strength in Baghdad", highlights its focus on resolving the Region’s financial disputes with the federal government. PUK have repeatedly claimed that recent salary transfers from Baghdad were the result of direct negotiations led by Bafel Talabani.

The KDP, meanwhile, has placed similar emphasis on ties with Baghdad. At a campaign event in Erbil earlier this week, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani described the Iraqi elections as "crucial," saying that his party’s representatives would fight for the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region and all Iraqi components. The KDP is contesting under the slogan "Partnership, Balance, and Compatibility."

Currently, the KDP holds 31 seats in the Iraqi parliament, compared to 17 for the PUK. Both parties see Baghdad as the key arena for addressing Kurdistan’s financial entitlements, especially public sector salaries, which have been at the center of political disputes for years.

Iraq’s parliamentary campaign period, which began October 3, runs until November 8. Special voting is scheduled for November 9, followed by the general vote on November 11.