The PUK, one of the main parties in the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq, has announced it is withdrawing from the government and will not recognise the recent parliament session or any decisions it makes.
PUK President Bafel Talabani announced the decision in a video message to supporters late on Thursday, sharply criticising the rival KDP.
Talabani declared that his party would withdraw from what he called a “failed government” with immediate effect.
The announcement followed the regional parliament’s first session to elect its leadership in nearly two years.
The PUK and the New Generation Movement boycotted the sitting, but a small number of individual lawmakers from those parties attended, allowing the session to proceed.
“A minority within the KDP proved today that they do not know what democracy is, that they hold zero respect for you, the voters, and they proved today that they do not know how governance should be conducted in this country,” Talabani said.
Warning of parallel appointments
Talabani also accused members of the rival party of using public funds to influence lawmakers.
He said the same group had shown it was willing to use public money “to buy members of parliament, and use your money to threaten MPs.”
The PUK chief warned that his party would respond to any unilateral appointments by the KDP with parallel moves.
“You appoint a President of the Region, we will appoint a President of the Region. You appoint ministers, we will appoint ministers. You appoint a Prime Minister, we will appoint a Prime Minister,” he said.
“Whatever you do over there, we will do right here,” Talabani added.
The announcement followed the regional parliament's first session to elect its leadership in nearly two years.
The PUK and the New Generation Movement boycotted the sitting, but a small number of individual lawmakers from those parties attended, allowing the session to proceed.
