# Kurdistan Region political crisis

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kurdistan-region-political-crisis
> Updated: 2026-11-06T18:00:52.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2.

The Kurdistan Regional Government parliament has reactivated after a two year deadlock, electing Vala Farid of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) as speaker. The session was boycotted by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the New Generation Movement.

The PUK, led by Bafel Talabani, has declared the new parliament illegal, alleging that the quorum was achieved through bribery, threats, and psychological pressure. In response, the PUK has withdrawn from the regional government and threatened to establish a parallel administration in the Sulaimaniyah and Halabja areas if the KDP proceeds to appoint a regional president and prime minister.

This escalation intensifies the long standing rivalry between the KDP and the PUK. While the KDP maintains that resuming parliamentary activity is a legal step for the region, the potential relocation of PUK ministers from Erbil to Sulaimaniyah signals a deepening division that may impact regional stability.

## Claims

- The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has withdrawn from the Kurdistan Regional Government cabinet. (reported by 4 sources)
- The PUK considers the reactivated Kurdistan Parliament illegitimate. (reported by 3 sources)
- The PUK threatened to form a parallel administration in Sulaimaniyah if the KDP appoints a regional president and prime minister. (reported by 2 sources)
- The recent parliamentary session was attended by 52 out of 100 members. (reported by 2 sources)
- The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is led by Massoud Barzani. (reported by 2 sources)
- PUK ministers and the deputy prime minister may move their offices from Erbil to Sulaimaniyah. (reported by 1 source)

## Timeline

### 2026-11-06: Kurdistan Region faces potential split as PUK withdraws from government

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has withdrawn from the regional government, threatening to form a rival administration in Sulaimaniyah following a disputed parliamentary session.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kurdistan-region-faces-political-rift-as-puk-withdraws-from-government

### 2026-11-04: Kurdistan Region Parliament reactivates after two-year deadlock

The Kurdistan Regional Government parliament has reactivated after a two-year deadlock, electing Vala Farid as speaker despite a boycott and threats of a parallel administration from the PUK.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kurdistan-regional-government-parliament-resumes-sessions-after-two-year-hiatus

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Cite as: Kurdistan Region political crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kurdistan-region-political-crisis