Political analyst: party disputes threaten Kurdish achievements in Kurdistan region

The political scene in Southern Kurdistan is witnessing escalating tensions due to disagreements among political forces and delays in forming the government, amid concerns about the repercussions of division on the region’s stability and the achievements of the Kurdish people. This raises questions about ways to overcome the crisis and unify the Kurdish ranks in confronting current and future challenges.

Kurdish political analyst in Southern Kurdistan, Hakim Abdulkarim, believes that the current phase requires a high degree of political responsibility from all Kurdish forces, as well as prioritizing the national interest over partisan and regional calculations. He stressed that continued disagreements could negatively affect the Kurds’ ability to defend their rights and achievements, whether within the region, at the Iraqi level, or in other Kurdish regions.

Abdulkarim explained that the practice of forming governments in the Kurdistan Region dates back to 1992, when the first government was established through consensus between the two ruling parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Consequently, this approach became an established convention in the process of forming governments.

He pointed out that, from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s perspective, the reasons behind the delay in forming the current government stem from the party’s recognition that its participation in the government is not substantive.

This has prompted it to demand changes in ministerial and official positions, as well as seek political and sovereign positions, such as the Ministry of Interior, the presidency of the Kurdistan Region, and many other positions. He considered these demands among the main reasons for the delay.

He added that responsibility for overcoming the crisis does not rest solely with the two parties, but also falls on all other political forces and parties, civil society organizations, and prominent political and cultural activists, who have a responsibility to influence the two parties and push them to fulfill their responsibilities toward the interests and demands of the Kurdish people.

He further noted that Iraq operates under a federal system and that many problems and unresolved issues remain between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, including Article 140, oil and gas issues, and numerous other outstanding files that have yet to be resolved.

He explained that the absence of unified rhetoric and a unified Kurdish political decision, with the participation of all political forces, prevents the Kurds from securing these historic achievements. These include bringing Article 140 back under the umbrella of Kurdistan, resolving the issues of Kirkuk and Shengal, and addressing many other unresolved crises. He noted that any division among political currents would delay efforts to resolve these issues.

Abdulkarim described the Kurdistan Region as a political lung, comparing it to the Amazon rainforest, which is considered the lungs of the world and a source of oxygen and nature. He explained that, for the Kurds, the Kurdistan Region represents a historic, national, and collective achievement, not only for the region itself but also for all other parts of Kurdistan.

He pointed out that Kurds in other parts of Kurdistan view the Kurdistan Region as a historic source of support for them, and that any progress and stability there would have a positive impact on the Kurdish cause in the other parts. The reverse is also true.

He stressed that the most important way to overcome the crisis lies in adopting the demands put forward by the Kurdistan National Congress, which issued a statement on the sixth of this month addressing the issue. The statement called for resolving political disputes through dialogue, mutual understanding, and negotiations; moving away from political battles driven by partisan and regional interests; and embracing national unity. It also called for establishing, consolidating, and documenting political and constitutional institutions, while prioritizing democracy over power-sharing arrangements, partisanship, and regional considerations.

He warned that any suggestion or indication of a possible division in the South would constitute a historic danger and a historic crime against the Kurdish people, their sacrifices, and their struggles.

He recalled the experience of division between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, when two separate administrations existed. He noted that this period was not without casualties and sacrifices, in addition to its impact on the institutional fabric and the ease with which regional countries were able to interfere in internal affairs. He also emphasized that any division leads to the absence and loss of political will.

He added that the Kurds do not exist only in South Kurdistan, but are spread across all four parts of Kurdistan. He warned that the Kurdistan Regional Government’s inability to unify the ranks and serve as a platform and arena for supporting Kurds in the other parts would constitute a historic setback for the Kurdish people.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Kurdish political analyst Abdulkarim explained that he does not believe this issue will reach the point of division. Rather, he described it as a series of emotional reactions and responses between the two parties regarding the matter, which he characterized as “irrational.” He expressed his belief that there are well-intentioned forces within both parties and throughout Kurdish society, emphasizing his hope that these issues will be resolved through negotiations and that the dialogue will serve the interests of the Kurdish people as a whole.

ANHA