The political crisis in Erbil worsens. The National Union withdraws from the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government and rejects the legitimacy of Parliament.
The political crisis in the Kurdistan region of Iraq worsened following the election of the Presidency of Parliament in the absence of opposition blocs
Quick Look
Bafel Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, announced his party’s withdrawal from the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government and its non-recognition of the last parliament session, threatening to appoint parallel positions in Sulaymaniyah, against the backdrop of the election of the parliament’s presidency in Erbil in the absence of opposition blocs.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Legislative work in the Kurdistan Region has been disrupted since the October 2024 elections due to disagreements over the distribution of senior positions. Parliament recently elected a presidency in the absence of opposition blocs.
The head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, Bafel Talabani, announced his withdrawal from the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. Pavel Talabani added in statements reported by the Kurdish Rudaw news network, "From this moment we announce our withdrawal from this government and we will harness our full capabilities to provide our people in our region with everything they need." He said, "We, as a national union, do not recognize the session of the Kurdistan Parliament and withdraw from the government. We pledged not to allow a single drop of blood to be shed."
Pavel Talabani also indicated that if he proceeds with the formation of a government and other institutions, he will name and appoint the same positions in Sulaymaniyah as well.
Bafel Talabani's statements came yesterday, Thursday (November 5, 2026), following a meeting of the Leadership Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party in Sulaymaniyah, the day after a session of the Kurdistan Parliament in Erbil, during which the Presidency of Parliament was elected in the presence of 52 parliamentarians from the Kurdistan Democratic Party and other parties.
On Wednesday, the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Parliament elected Vala Ibrahim Farid as its president, more than two years after the legislative elections, despite continuing differences between the parties.
After being postponed four times due to political differences, elections were held in October 2024 for the regional parliament, in which the Kurdistan Democratic Party prevailed by winning 39 seats out of 100. Since then, legislative work has been impossible due to disagreements over the distribution of senior positions in the region and the composition of its next government.
Parliament held its first session on Wednesday, in the presence of 52 deputies who chose the candidate of the Democratic Party bloc, Vala Farid Ibrahim, as speaker. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan bloc (23 deputies) boycotted the session, along with the New Generation bloc (15 deputies) and other smaller blocs.
An official in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Salar Mahmoud, told AFP, "We believed in joint action and national consensus... but it seems that the Kurdistan Democratic Party has followed the mistakes of the past, and we do not believe that this will bring good results to the people of Kurdistan."
Ibrahim said in a press conference after the session, “This step serves all segments of Kurdistan and is not against any party,” calling on all blocs to end the boycott.
After electing a female president, Parliament must choose a president for the region to succeed the current president, Nechirvan Barzani, and then a president for the regional government to succeed Masrour Barzani.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Appointment of parallel administrative positions in Sulaymaniyah by the National Union
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the National Union actually appoint parallel positions in Sulaymaniyah?
- How will the regional government deal with the National Union boycott?
