Gorran and PUK ready to sign on dotted line or are gaps still too big?
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Rivalry between old foes the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Gorran has dragged out negotiations on the formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). But, more than half a year after elections, there is a glimmer of hope that both sides are softening their hardline stances in acknowledgement of the need to break the impasse and get on with the job they were tasked with by the electorate.
"We have no other option besides reaching agreement," Qubad Talabani said on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 22nd annual Galawej Festival.
Talabani, deputy prime minister in the outgoing government, topped PUK’s list in the election and received the most votes of any candidate in the September 30 election. He is the son of PUK founder and beloved Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani and was speaking at the festival organized by veteran PUK official Mala Bakhtiar.
"The festival takes place in spring, a season of bad and happy times for the Kurdish nation. This should encourage us to rise above disagreements and work for national and service questions," he told the crowd of mainly intellectuals, adding the government should be formed soon.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won the election, but failed to secure an outright majority. It has signed agreements with second place PUK and third place Gorran for a coalition government, but still cannot bring its two allies to the table together.
The main stumbling block is over control of the security sectors, which are effectively controlled by KDP and PUK – not the government – as both parties have their own forces. The PUK recently said it wants to see the creation of a second vice presidency position that would oversee military affairs. The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, head of PUK’s Peshmerga, has vowed that his forces won’t take orders from a Gorran vice president.
KDP spokesperson Mahmoud Mohammed told Rudaw that in a recent party meeting, they agreed to the idea of two vice presidents. "In the meeting, we have had no issue with adding it or not," he said, but added the issue should be broached through negotiation and not ultimatums.
Nechirvan Barzani, KDP’s nominee for president, and his cousin Masrour Barzani, KDP’s nominee for prime minister, were both present at the meeting.
What the KDP does take issue with, however, is dragging out the process. "Both sides should be considerate of the situation, that further delay is not in the interest of the Kurdistan Region," Mohammed said.
According to information Rudaw has obtained, Nechirvan Barzani has met with the leadership of both PUK and Gorran, asking them to stop hampering political negotiations.
While Talabani sounded conciliatory in his speech on Thursday, PUK has not publicly stated whether or not they are ready to ease up on their demands. They have previously rejected the offer of a second deputy for the prime minister.
Gorran, which initially rejected outright the PUK’s proposition for a second deputy president, seems to be mellowing, albeit with conditions.
"If they insist on this position, then maybe we will, for the sake of the interests of the people, agree to a second vice," Hemin Sheikhani, member of Gorran's National Council, told Rudaw this week.
Gorran, which has no armed forces, has traditionally advocated for abolishing party control of the Peshmerga and Asayesh (security forces). No "single party" should be holding two senior security positions, said Sheikhani, referring to PUK’s desire to hold the Peshmerga ministry in addition to the new vice presidency.
The second vice president should have administrative roles instead, he said.
The KDP is losing patience with its would-be coalition partners. Head of the party, and former president of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani said earlier this month that there is “no justification” for further delays.