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The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the main Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, has announced that it is withdrawing from the regional government and will not recognize the latest parliament session or any decisions made there, Anadolu Agency reported.
PUK President Bafel Talabani announced the decision in a video message to supporters late Thursday, sharply criticizing the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He said the PUK would leave what he called a “failed government” with immediate effect.
Talabani accused a minority within the KDP of showing disrespect for voters and a lack of understanding of democracy and governance. He also accused members of the rival party of using public funds to influence lawmakers, alleging they had used money “to buy members of parliament, and use your money to threaten MPs.”
He warned that the PUK would respond to any unilateral appointments by the KDP with parallel appointments, saying: “You appoint a President of the Region, we will appoint a President of the Region. You appoint ministers, we will appoint ministers. You appoint a Prime Minister, we will appoint a Prime Minister.”
“Whatever you do over there, we will do right here,” Talabani added.
The announcement came after the regional parliament held its first session to elect its leadership in nearly two years. The PUK and the New Generation Movement boycotted the sitting, but a small number of individual lawmakers from those parties attended, allowing the session to proceed.
