ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Komal had a “good” meeting on Tuesday, working out issues between them ahead of parliament convening on February 18. They did not discuss Komal either joining the government or sitting in opposition.
“We had a good meeting. The main topic was the political relations between the two sides,” Komal’s spokesperson Rebwar Hamad told reporters after the meeting.
The two parties have the “intention and the will” to improve their relations and agreed on the need to differentiate relations between two parties and those between a party and the government, he added.
“Without a doubt, healthy political relations between the political parties will be a good foundation for governance in the Kurdistan Region,” said Hamad.
Komal was a frequent critic of the KDP in the last government, even when it was a part of the broad-based cabinet. In December 2017, Komal joined Gorran in withdrawing from the coalition government.
Komal has also accused KDP security forces of detaining members of their party on fabricated charges.
Mahmoud Mohammed, spokesperson for the KDP, said that it is “natural” for political parties to compete and have disagreements, but that members of the government should not act like the opposition.
Komal has not yet decided if it will join the KDP-led government.
“The question of our participation or becoming the opposition is still open ended,” said Hamad. Their leadership will make that decision after more discussions with other parties.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Gorran will both be joining the KDP in government and are engaged in discussions over positions and a government program for the next four years, though disagreements between the KDP and PUK have slowed progress.
Mohammed said the KDP has almost reached a full understanding with Gorran.
New Generation, Kurdistan Communist Party, and Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) have already announced they will sit in opposition.
Komal, Gorran, and the opposition parties have all called for the next government to institute a series of reforms including tackling corruption, developing government institutions, professionalizing and uniting the Peshmerga forces, and eliminating party control over security forces.