PUK Leader Declares 'Largest Political Crisis' in Kurdish History, Rejects Parliament

Bafel Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), has characterized the recent dispute with the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) as the most significant political crisis the Kurdistan region has ever faced. He further stated that he no longer recognizes the authority of the parliament in Erbil.

Following a contentious parliamentary session held last week, Talabani announced his party's withdrawal from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This action exacerbates the ongoing political crisis and raises concerns about the potential re-establishment of parallel administrations within the region.

The PUK's decision came after the Kurdistan parliament convened for the first time in almost two years and elected a Speaker, despite a boycott by the PUK and its allied parties. These parties had advocated for a postponement of the session until an agreement could be reached on the appointment of key cabinet positions. However, the vote proceeded with 52 out of the 100 politicians present, meeting the required 51-member quorum.

“The complete disrespect of the parliamentary process, the disregard for people's opinions to make parliament into the trading of cattle with threats and with money is completely unforgivable,” Talabani stated. “And if this is allowed to stand, it will become the new norm. There is no parliament. I recognise no parliament. This decision will be reversed.” He emphasized that the PUK “will never take part in anything that comes from this process.”

Speaking at the Slemani Strategic Forum in Sulaymaniyah on Thursday, during an interview for 'On the Record with Hadley Gamble,' Talabani also addressed the US call for Kurdish unity, turning it back on his KDP rivals. “All we need from the [US President Donald] Trump administration is an understanding of what's happened here,” he said. “And if you won't help us resolve it, please stand by. We're big enough and ugly enough to resolve it ourselves.”

His comments followed remarks made a day earlier by Tom Barrack, the US special envoy to Iraq, at the Chatham House Iraq Initiative in London. Barrack urged Kurdish leaders to resolve their differences, stating, “Get over it. This is an Iraqi decision, it's not an American decision. There is no way we can intervene.”

Talabani expressed his agreement with Barrack, directing the message pointedly at the Kurdish leadership in Erbil: “The KRG absolutely and categorically needs to sort itself out. And anything we can do to assist in this process, we are more than willing to do.”

Fifty-two legislators attended the session and elected Vala Fareed of the KDP as speaker. The PUK's 23 deputies and New Generation's 15 deputies boycotted the session, along with several smaller blocs.

Talabani warned that his party would appoint parallel officials in response to any unilateral actions. Earlier on Monday, KDP leader Masoud Barzani had urged the PUK to return to negotiations.

Talabani dismissed the notion that the dispute was a personal feud between the Talabani and Barzani families. “I think there is a long-standing disagreement between two political powers of the region, and sadly that's come down into the population,” he said. He described the events in parliament as “the straw that finally broke the camel's back.”

Referencing the timing of the session just before Guy Fawkes Night, he made a historical comparison, suggesting the KDP had acted similarly to Guy Fawkes. “So I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgotten,” he remarked, before adding, “flippancy aside,” that the forum began with a moment of silence for those who died liberating the country. “The KDP took a wrecking ball to their memories that day.”

Talabani ruled out the possibility of violence, stating, “Oh, no. Absolutely not. That will compound the issue further. Political disagreements should not be resolved with violence.” However, he stopped short of backing down, describing talk of two separate governments as premature. “I try to make it very clear to the KDP that every escalation will be met with an appropriate and well-planned escalation,” he warned. “To me, that means the door is open for us to stop escalating and start dialoguing. But be certain the escalation ladder is here.”

Talabani commended Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi as “honest, straightforward” and noted Baghdad's constructive efforts, which he claimed were rebuffed by what he repeatedly termed “the minority in the KDP.” He also advocated for the right to acquire air defense systems following a recent drone attack on the Khor Mor gasfield.

Iraqi and Kurdish leaders have committed to protecting gasfields after a recent attack. Talabani highlighted Chamchamal, the district housing Khor Mor, as crucial for Kurdistan's gas and electricity supply, noting its water scarcity. He argued that the KDP's belief in a “weak Baghdad means a strong Kurdistan” was outdated, asserting that unity with Baghdad now strengthens all parties.

While pledging political de-escalation, Talabani indicated the PUK would no longer wait financially. Plans were outlined to transition private, profit-making electricity schemes in PUK-controlled areas to a non-profit basis, followed by similar measures for gas and petrol.

The attack on Khor Mor halted production and impacted approximately 2.8 gigawatts of generating capacity. Al Zaidi has ordered a joint investigation. Talabani stated it was too early to assign blame, noting that after “extremely deep and stern conversations with the Iranians,” they had assured him of their non-involvement. He also pointed out the unusual denial of responsibility by armed factions typically claiming such attacks, suggesting the timing and methodology warranted serious investigation for potential false flags.

Talabani expressed confidence in the Iraqi government's investigation but appealed for defensive systems, stating, “We do not need offensive capabilities. Please, if you cannot provide us with these defensive capabilities, at least allow us to purchase our own.” He acknowledged that under a one-Iraq policy, Baghdad's approval is necessary and urged Erbil to be more proactive in securing it. “If you can't fix this negotiation, let us do it. We'll fix it in a matter of hours.”

Responding to US President Donald Trump's comments on diplomacy potentially averting new Iran strikes, Talabani argued that financial costs now outweigh military victories, and that pressure and dialogue are more effective than renewed conflict. He described Iranians as “pragmatic, ancient and proud people” and his recent trip to Tehran as “very good,” hoping the PUK had facilitated dialogue between the US and Iran. Addressing perceptions of being aligned with Tehran, he dismissed them as outdated, stating his closest allies included Americans, Brits, and Iranians.

He urged Washington to pursue “small steps towards the resolution of the crisis in Gaza,” suggesting that sanctions and military actions had failed. He believed that allowing people to live with dignity would remove pretexts for undesirable actions.

Talabani described changes in Iran, including a scene in a Tehran restaurant where men and women mixed freely, which he found surprising. Regarding Iran and Israel, he proposed preventing conflict rather than engaging in diplomacy, suggesting that stopping mutual strikes would resolve many regional issues.

He was critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a “broken man” affected by personal and family issues, and suggested that Netanyahu's departure from politics would benefit both Israel and himself. He drew a parallel to his own potential reaction if his brother had faced a similar fate to Netanyahu's brother, Yoni, who was killed in a 1976 Israeli army raid.

In his final appeal to Washington, Talabani stated, “My dear friends in Washington, DC and the rest of the world, you know exactly what's happening here. It is the opposite of every democratic principle that you believe in, you have fought for, and you have died for on this Iraqi soil. Don't ever allow what happened in parliament to become the new normal, because that will set us back decades and that will set us back on a road that eventually will lead to an uprising or to violence. No longer must we say this will do. It will not do.”