ERBIL - The France Press news agency has underlined the decisive role of prominent Kurdish leader and president of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the political process across Iraq.

The report noted that despite the fact that Iraq's presidency, a ceremonial post, has gone to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) Barham Salih, Barzani's KDP made great success in Kurdistan Region's parliamentary election on September 30 by obtaining 45 seats of the parliament.

The KDP also won 25 seats in the Iraqi legislative vote, it therefore can hold some essential posts in the federal government.

"Now that he is the great heavyweight of Kurdish politics, no-one can do without him in Baghdad," said Adel Bakawan, a research associate at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris (EHESS), as quoted by the AFP.

He noted that the Kurdish influential leader would seek the posts of deputy premier, foreign and finance ministries for his party in the Iraqi new cabinet which is expected to be formed soon.

The report pointed out that the KDP, with its secured 45 seats won in the 111-member regional parliament, can form a majority government in Erbil without PUK by relying on other 11-seats allocation reserved for the minorities such as Turkmen, Christian and Armenian communities.

Bas News