Political accusations fly in Iraq's Kurdistan region
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is witnessing a sharp division that could affect the regional government's ability to address Kurdish issues.
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq — Infighting between factions of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) could lead to a dead end, but not before calling attention to what dissenters say are reprehensible secret operations of a power-hungry bloc within the political party.
Some believe the battle could have far-reaching repercussions that eventually could lead to the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) being controlled by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is thought to be affiliated with the terrorist-designated Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The PUK's two deputy secretary-generals, Kosrat Rasul Ali and Barham Salih, announced Sept. 1 the formation of a "decision-making center" within the PUK, with the support of some senior executive party officials. The idea was immediately rejected by other party leaders, including Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, wife of PUK general secretary and former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Talabani no longer effectively leads the party since suffering a stroke in December 2012.
The social-democratic PUK party was already divided for various reasons, most notably management disagreements. Dissenters say the party has been monopolized by a bloc whose self-serving decisions have diminished the party's role and turned it from an effective force into a marginal player.
