SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ) : Political Deadlock over Cabinet Formation about to End

15-2-2014 – HAWLER/ Kurdistan region, KNNC: 146 days have passed since the September 2013 General Parliamentary Elections of the Kurdistan region and the top five parties with the most votes are finalizing their steps towards forming the eighth cabinet. 

On 13/2/2014 the Gorran Movement High Delegation, headed by Nawshirwan Mustafa General Coordinator of Gorran, arrived in Hawler and met Masoud Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan, for the second time since the September 2013 Elections. The KRG‌’s official website describes the meeting as ‘positive’. 

The meeting lasted for two hours and both sides discussed the political situation of the Kurdistan region and Iraq. Gorran delegation emphasized the importance of forming the cabinet as soon as possible and Barzani had the same opinion and expressed his support to speed up the talks. Both sides agreed on uniting their attitudes towards the Central Government in Baghdad, when facing issues. 

“Both sides expressed their determination to strengthen the relationship between Gorran and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)” Aram Shex Mhamad, member of the Gorran delegation, told the Kurdish weekly Awene Newspaper. According to information gained from KNNC sources, the roles of Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources will be given to the KDP and deputy PM will go to the PUK, while the Ministry of Interior and speaker of parliament will go to Gorran. These five posts are considered the most essential posts of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).  

It is expected that Nechirvan Barzani, the KDP Deputy President and Prime Minister-designate will be meeting with the party‌’s leaders to put an end to the pending issues between the political parties. Masoud Barzani on the other hand will meet with PUK‌’s officials for the same reason on 15/2/2014.   Dr. Fuad Hussein, Masoud Barzani’s Chief of Staff, in a statement said that most of the talks were related to the formation of the cabinet and the obstacles and impediments that were there between the negotiation teams of the political parties.