KDP and PUK head for talks on next Iraqi government

[Anthea]

KDP and PUK head to Baghdad for talks on next Iraqi government

A delegation from the two Kurdish parties that secured the most seats in Iraq’s parliamentary election has traveled to Baghdad to hold meetings on the formation of the new central government

Fazil Mirani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Mala Bakhtiar of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) departed for the Iraqi capital on Wednesday, Mirani stated on Facebook.

They will meet with Iraqi political parties to discuss formation of the new government.

Iraq held parliamentary elections on May 12, but the results have been disputed and a manual recount is underway.

No single party received a strong mandate from voters and alliances will be key to forming the next government. There have been multiple negotiations over the weeks after the vote as parties jostle for position while waiting for results to be finalized.

The KDP and PUK have agreed to join forces to negotiate with Iraqi parties in Baghdad in a bid to strengthen the position of Kurds who some pundits believe could play a kingmaker role since Shiite parties are divided over the shape of the next government.

The two Kurdish parties – who together secured 43 seats in the contested results – have said they are open to uniting with other Kurdish parties. That looks unlikely at the moment.

The Change Movement (Goran), the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ), the Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal), and the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), which combined secured 15 seats, have disputed the May 12 election results, ordering a full manual recount of votes. They accuse the KDP and PUK of rigging the election.

The acting government is currently facing a crisis. Iraqis angry about unemployment, government corruption, and lack of services have taken to the streets every day for over a week. Sporadic violence has broken out in the protests.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has appealed to the political parties for help in appeasing the protesters.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/180720181