Kurdish Policy Analysis

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj   Who Has the Constitutional Right to Form the Next KRG Government? Naway Nwe's Federal Court Challenge Could Reshape Kurdish Politics The formation of a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has entered a potentially decisive constitutional phase after the Naway Nwe (New Generation) Movement reportedly asked Iraq's Federal Supreme Court to clarify one of the most contested legal questions in parliamentary democracies: What constitutes the "largest parliamentary faction" entitled to nominate the next prime minister? While the complaint appears technical, its political implications are profound. The Federal Court is being asked to determine whether the constitutional right to form the government belongs to the political party that wins the most seats in the election or to a coalition formed after the election that commands a parliamentary majority. The answer could determine not only who forms the next Kurdistan Regional Government but also...

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     An alleged confidential agreement between PUK leader Bafel Talabani and New Generation Movement leader Shaswar Abdulwahid has reignited debate over political transparency, coalition-building, and the future of opposition politics in the Kurdistan Region. An alleged leaked agreement between the PUK and New Generation Movement has intensified scrutiny of coalition politics and government formation in the Kurdistan Region. A Political Earthquake Amid Government Deadlock The publication of an alleged confidential agreement between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the New Generation Movement (NGM) has injected fresh uncertainty into the Kurdistan Region's already stalled government formation process. Released by former New Generation official Sebur Mantk, the unverified document purports to reveal the political and commercial understandings that underpin the increasingly controversial alliance between PUK Presiden...

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Estimated Reading Time: 18–20 minutes Although the government crisis in Southern Kurdistan is often seen as a disagreement between the KDP and PUK, it is evolving into a situation that targets some of the Kurdish people’s most significant achievements and weakens the Kurdish position. More than a year and a half has passed since the elections held in Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) on October 20, 2024, yet a coalition government has still not been formed. This situation, caused by disagreements between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), has also directly affected the formation of the Iraqi government, including the months-long presidential election crisis that followed the parliamentary elections held in Iraq in November 2025. Dozens of meetings yielded no results Parliamentary elections were held in Southern Kurdistan on October 20, 2024, when the KDP won 40 seats, the PUK 23, the N...

  Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj  , Sulaimani, Iraq, 05 May , 2026   — The National Political Council affirmed its readiness to attend the parliamentary session to grant confidence to the new government during a meeting with a delegation from the Coordination Framework. According to a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), “leaders of the National Political Council received a delegation from the Coordination Framework at the headquarters of Speaker of Parliament Haibat Al-Halbousi, where both sides stressed the importance of expediting the formation of the government.” The statement added that the meeting discussed key political, economic, and security challenges facing Iraq, as well as accumulated issues, emphasizing the need to develop visions and solutions to be incorporated into the government program and the political agreement document, in a way that meets citizens’ aspirations and enhances stability. It noted that the council’s leaders confirmed their readines...

Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj  , Sulaimani, Iraq, 04 May , 2026   — From oil revenues to disputed territories, Kurdish factions condition their support for Baghdad’s new cabinet on sweeping political and economic guarantees. A Political Ultimatum from Kurdistan As Iraq races to form a new government, Kurdish political forces have issued a clear and coordinated message to Ali al-Zaidi :  No guarantees, no support.  In a decisive move, Kurdish parties tied their participation in the next cabinet to a comprehensive list of 20 demands , framing them not as political bargaining—but as minimum conditions for genuine partnership in Iraq’s future governance.  This is not just negotiation. It is a recalibration of power between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region . From Ministries to Rights: A Strategic Shift Unlike previous government formation cycles—often dominated by disputes over ministerial shares—this time Kurdish leaders are reframing the debate.  Their message is...

Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj  , Sulaimani, Iraq, 04 May , 2026   —  From war-torn beginnings to political renewal, Iraq’s next chapter may be shaped by its youngest leadership class yet—raising hopes for reform, stability, and real change. A Nation at a Turning Point:  Twenty-three years after the 2003 invasion of Iraq , Iraq may be entering its most consequential phase yet—not defined by war, but by renewal.  For the first time in years, a cautious optimism is spreading across the country. The reason is not just political change—but generational change.  A new wave of younger leaders is stepping into Iraq’s highest offices, raising a powerful question:  Can a new generation succeed where the old system struggled? The Rise of a New Political Generation At the center of this shift is Ali al-Zaidi , a 40-year-old figure now tasked with forming Iraq’s next government.  His nomination by the Coordination Framework signals a deliberate move toward younger ...