Burhan Sheikh Raouf, a senior figure in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said on Tuesday that the party remains open to dialogue with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in an effort to agree on a joint Kurdish candidate for the presidency of the Republic.
Speaking to dinaropinions.com, Sheikh Raouf stressed that the PUK still believes differences with the KDP can be resolved through renewed meetings and constructive dialogue. He said the party’s doors remain open to any understanding that could lead to consensus on a unified presidential nominee.
He noted that consultations so far have not produced agreement on a single candidate. According to Sheikh Raouf, the final decision will be made next week in Parliament and will largely depend on the ability of the two Kurdish parties to secure support from other political blocs.
Sheikh Raouf also downplayed the impact of the large number of candidates, particularly those from the Kurdish component, arguing that many of the nominations do not reflect a genuine belief in winning the presidency. Instead, he suggested that some candidates entered the race primarily for media exposure.
Iraq’s Council of Representatives held its first session of the new parliamentary term on December 29, during which a Speaker of Parliament was elected. The session to elect the President of the Republic is scheduled for the 29th of this month, which is the constitutional deadline for completing the process.
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