PUK will stand on its own in the next elections

Written on March 18, 2013 by Editor in KDP, KRG, Kurd news, PUK

KT News:

Kurdistan Region’s parliament

At the latest meeting between the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) politburos, these two ruling parties decided to abandon their electoral alliance and stand against each other in the general elections to the Kurdistan parliament.

The decision followed recent speeches and criticisms, raised especially within the PUK, whose members feel their party has got the worst of the deal, with most government posts held in KDP hands.

But, at the same time, KDP members are saying, “We are fed up carrying the can for the PUK, it didn’t get enough votes in last election and we paid their debts”.

The PUK politburo issued a statement today declaring that the party will not go into the elections, due to be held in July, with the KDP but will instead stand on its own.

This decision reflects the absence through ill health of the party’s founder. In the last elections, the PUK was in full partnership with the KDP and this was mainly due to the pressure of one man – Jalal Talabani.