Family feud in Iraqi Kurdish party may undercut election chances
A dispute between the son of the founder of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party's former leader, and his cousin might reduce the chances of victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
On Aug. 5, dozens of armed supporters of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Co-President Lahur Sheikh Jangi gathered around his house in Sulaimaniyah in Iraq's Kurdistan Region to defend him.
The supporters gathered after rumors circulated about an arrest warrant being issued with his name on it following accusations made by PUK Co-President Bafel Talabani, son of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
Despite the fact that Bafel blocked Jangi from the presidency of the PUK, the official website of the party still refers to Bafel as the co-president. This means Jangi has so far kept his position while awaiting an internal reshuffling by the party.
Supporters of the party fear family disputes might result in divisions within the party and hope the blow they received in 2009 is not repeated. Founded in 1975, the party's former Deputy Secretary-General Nawshirwan Mustafa resigned in 2009 and founded the Gorran movement (Movement for Change).
