The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) ministerial team is set to rejoin the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) weekly council of ministers meetings after boycotting for six months.

The decision was made following a meeting of the PUK's leadership council, where they discussed the latest political developments in the region.

The KRG ninth cabinet is a coalition government comprising members from the KDP, PUK, Change Movement, Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party, and Iraqi Turkmen Front.

The PUK team had previously boycotted cabinet sessions, citing revenue management and security concerns, leading to tension between the two leading parties who control the majority of parliamentary seats.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani had previously called on the PUK team to return to the cabinet sessions to address their concerns, rather than isolating themselves. Recently, PM Barzani and his deputy, Qubad Talabani, met to discuss a path forward to resolving outstanding issues through dialogue.

This meeting was welcomed by the US, UK, and the Netherlands, who had urged both sides to overcome the impasse and work together.

Analysts believe that a tension-free KDP-PUK relationship could be a source of stability for the Kurdistan Region, whose sixth parliamentary election hinges on the agreement of the major parties. The election is set to take place in October of this year.

By Kobin Ferhad