Qubad Talabani: PUK Central to Iraq and Kurdistan Political Landscape

Qubad Talabani's media office

Qubad Talabani's meeting with PUK's team in government.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Qubad Talabani, met on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, with the directors general of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) within the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

During the meeting, he discussed the PUK’s policy in Baghdad, emphasising the party’s strong position. He stated that the PUK regards Baghdad as a strategic depth for the Kurdistan Region and an influential centre of power. He added that the party seeks, on the one hand, to resolve outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, while on the other hand working to develop a new policy that enables it to play an effective role in addressing Iraq’s domestic and international challenges.

The Deputy Prime Minister further noted that, through this pragmatic approach, the PUK is no longer a force that can be marginalised, and that its positions and policies on key and critical issues in Iraq and the wider region are increasingly taken into account.

Turning to internal affairs in the Kurdistan Region, he highlighted the challenges obstructing the formation of the new KRG cabinet, stressing that the PUK remains committed to its stance and has never closed the door to dialogue or negotiation, while continuing to insist on genuine power-sharing.

He explained that the PUK believes governing in the previous manner will not serve the protection and development of the Region, nor resolve internal issues or relations with Baghdad. Accordingly, the party insists on correcting the course of governance, strengthening institutions, and establishing a genuine partnership in power.

He concluded by stressing that the PUK’s policy is not solely in its own interest, but also serves the broader interests of the people of Kurdistan and all political parties, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), as only through genuine partnership and institutional strengthening can the legacy of dual administrations be overcome.


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