Escalating disputes between major Iraqi Kurdistan parties raise fears of a return to dual administration
According to Alhurra, the dispute between the two main parties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has entered a new phase. Following Bafel Talabani's announcement on November 5 regarding the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) withdrawal from the regional government, the party's representatives in Erbil have ceased their duties. This move comes amid stalled negotiations for forming the tenth cabinet following the October 2024 elections. Ghias Surji, a PUK leader, confirmed that the boycott includes the party's ministers and general directors in Erbil, though it does not extend to Sulaymaniyah and Halabja. Conversely, Djiwar Faiq of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) described the move as counterproductive and called for resolving differences through dialogue. Masoud Barzani also urged both sides to negotiate, emphasizing the priority of the Kurdistan people's interests. Observers warn that the continuation of this situation could lead to an administrative division of the region, reminiscent of the civil war era in the 1990s.