ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Top officials from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) resumed meetings in Erbil on Monday to discuss government formation.

The PUK's delegation is led by KDP deputy and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. He has been tipped by his party to be president of the Kurdistan Region, if the post is reactivated by parliament.

The PUK's delegation is headed by acting leader Kosrat Rasul Ali.

Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) head Masrour Barzani is also attending. The KDP favors him to be the next prime minister.

KRG Deputy PM Qubad Talabani, his elder brother Bafel Talabani and Zanyari head Lahur Talabany — all from the PUK — are also in the Kurdistan Region’s capital for the talks.

The KDP won 45 seats in the parliamentary election on September 30 — 11 shy of an absolute majority. The PUK won 21 — three more than in 2013.


This is a developing story...

Rudaw