PUK President: I Will Do What I Say

Interviews 10:10 PM - 2025-04-19

PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani.

Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), reiterated that the PUK will carry out its election pledges in the new Kurdistan Regional Government cabinet. He also shared his opinions on the state of affairs in the Kurdistan Region and the PUK's relationship with the parties, citing global and regional shifts.

In an exclusive interview with Kurdsat News, the PUK President said that he will not do politics the classical way and reaffirmed that he will do what he says.

The PUK Rises higher and higher

The PUK President said during the interview: "The PUK will always rise higher and higher day by day. I will do what I say, I will not do politics the classical way. The PUK is better than a year ago and will be better next year. We have different colours, but we will talk about it in meetings, not in the media. We will make some changes in the PUK and rejuvenate it."

"I have taken politics very seriously and I will succeed. Our people deserve a better life, I mean the whole of Kurdistan," he said.

He revealed that he appointed Rafaat Abdullah as the vice president of the PUK for party affairs.

He said: "I am only one person in the PUK. If I don't have a team, I can't do anything."

I am proud of the things I have done in the UK

Speaking about his early life in the UK, he said: "Mr. Qubad and I had a difficult life. We were away from our parents. I am proud of the things I have done in the UK. I worked as a mechanic, I worked in restaurants and that made us what we are today."

"I enjoy living in Kurdistan and I travel a little. Living among your people is great," he added.

I play sports to be a good politician

Speaking about his family and private life, he said: "I named my son Koban. The battle they fought in Kobanê was a great one, so my kid must constantly strive to live up to the glory of that name. I am divorced from my wife Lava, but I will always support her. The children are important to me and Mrs. Lava. I help the kids, play sports, and carry out my plans exactly as they are. Human health is significantly impacted by sports. To be a good politician, I play sports."

About his hobbies, he said: "I like mechanic works. I like to read a lot and I have a passion for reading. I read books for half an hour to 40 minutes a day, but I don't like e-reading, I enjoy reading books much more. I like strategy, history and all other subjects."

"In sport we are all Manchester United groupies," he said

"I would have started a charity and assisted children if I weren't the PUK President," he added.

Speaking about his brother Qubad Talabani, he said: "I love Mr. Qubad very much and he is the closest person to me in my life."

PUK's relations with other parties are very good

About the PUK's relations with other parties, he said: "Our relationships with all parties are very good and improved."

"We have good relations with the Islamic parties and they are a good and respectable opposition and I never want them to be harmed," he said.

"We have good relations with Mohammed Haji Mahmoud and we support him, but we do not interfere in their affairs," he added.

I didn't like the co-presidency

Regarding the past changes within the PUK internally, the PUK President said: "I didn't like the presidency and the co-presidency. It was proposed to have three presidencies. Our co-presidency was a bitter experience for me and the party."

He added: "I haven't had any contact with Lahur Sheikh Jangi and there will never be any. He was no good for the party or for anyone. He did that to himself and I will never forgive someone who stabs me in the back."

"Mr. Lahur couldn't and didn't do anything with the PUK's strength. He can do nothing using those around him now," he noted.

Gorran ruined Kurdistan

Regarding the Change Movement and the disputes within that party, he said: "Gorran's (Change Movement) problems are their own business and we will sit with both sides, but we must not forget that Gorran ruined Kurdistan and disturbed the balance of power. It is very difficult for Gorran to become a strong Gorran again."

The New Generation will have the same fate as Gorran

Regarding the opposition New Generation Movement and his opinions on them, President Bafel said: "Mr. Shaswar says what he knows will not be implemented. He makes promises in the elections and deceives people. He uses politics for his own interests. Mr. Shaswar will have the same fate as Gorran."

About the New Generation Movement leader Shaswar Abdulwahid's statement, which said that they give their parliamentary seat to any party but the KDP, he said: "If Mr. Shaswar gives us his seats, I will take the premiership and the presidency of the Kurdistan Region, but he refuses to do that."

There will no longer be one party power

Regarding the election promises, he said: "I made some promises to the people during the election campaigns. When I say I will overthrow it, it does not mean that I will overthrow the government. I meant that there will no longer be one party power. We want this government to be better."

He added: "I brought up Tawtin (Nationalisation) during the election campaigns. The points that were in 'My Account' were eliminated following negotiations. We can create a solution that combines the advantages of My Account and Tawtin."

Without OK from PUK the government cannot be formed

Regarding the government formation in the Kurdistan Region, he said: "I am not talking about our private negotiations with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) here. Our job is to bring our differences closer together to form a government that serves our people."

He stressed that without OK from the PUK the government cannot be formed, noting that they haven't distributed posts yet.

He added: "We will meet with Mr. Masrour and I am pleased with the meetings. They will have positive results if they don't ruin them for us."

We have prepared a program for the next elections in Iraq

Regarding Kirkuk and the PUK's victories in the province, the PUK President said: "We appointed the governor of Kirkuk, which many powerful countries were against, but it was not difficult to appoint."

He added: "The strategy to win back Kirkuk is not new. Things are done according to programmes. The green zone had turned colourful and was no longer green."

Regarding the next Iraqi elections, he said: "We have prepared a program for the next elections in Iraq. We would prefer that Kurds participate on a single list, but we are prepared whether they are together or divided."

Every community in Kurdistan is important

Regarding the minority communities in the Kurdistan Region, he said: "Every community in Kurdistan is important to me. I want the communities to represent themselves. I would like to see a bill that safeguards the communities be passed by this parliament."

We will not negotiate on Iraqi presidency post

Regarding the Iraqi presidency post, he said: "We will not negotiate on the Iraqi presidency. It is the PUK's entitlement and we will not discuss it. There was a strategic agreement before, but the KDP broke it."

Regarding the PUK's relations with the Iraqi parties, he said: "Our connections with the majority of Iraqi parties are very good. Salary issues have arisen numerous times. They have been resolved by Mr. Qubad." 

Regarding the PUK's policies in Baghdad, he said: "I do politics in Baghdad. Erbil is the capital of Kurdistan and does not belong to only one party. It is important to have a political bureau in Erbil. Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and most decisions are made in Baghdad. We have a political bureau in Baghdad because politics happens there."

"It is normal to tear each other apart in Kurdistan, but we must do politics differently in Baghdad. Without Kurdish unity, we cannot protect our people," he said.

Groups outside the law are not allowed to make decisions

Regarding the Iraqi militias, he said: "Groups outside the law must be reintegrated into the law, or be dissolved. They are not allowed to make decisions."

"Them shooting missiles at us is unacceptable to us. If they hit us with one missile, we will hit them with four," he added.

The PUK has a logical oil and gas policy

Regarding the oil and gas file, the PUK President said: "The PUK has a logical oil and gas policy. The oil situation does not satisfy us. First, let us use the gas for Kurdistan. After that, we can ship it overseas and to Baghdad if we no longer need it. Our policy for gas and oil is transparency and justice."

The region will witness changes

Regarding changes in the region, he said: "The region will witness changes. I told Iraqi leaders that oil prices will fall to below $45 and Mr. Masrour knows that."

"I was told during meetings that the price of oil will be brought below $45," he said. "We will have a big problem with salaries and I am afraid that Baghdad will not be able to pay salaries."

I'm keeping a careful eye on the Syrian issue

Regarding his friendship with the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, he said: "Mazloum Kobane and I have a great friendship, and we speak every week."

As for the situation in Syria, he said: "I'm keeping a careful eye on the Syrian issue. What is crucial for now is the Kurds receiving their rights. Thankfully, the talks with Syria have proceeded smoothly.  The ceasefire, which has been declared 23 days ago, is still in effect and I hope it will continue."

"They can benefit from the experience of the Kurdistan Region, but they should not repeat our mistakes," he said.

Türkiye realises that we want to address this issue similarly to Mam Jalal

Regarding the peace prcess in Türkiye, he said: "Türkiye is an important country in the region. They gave the Turks false information following the PUK's changes, and the Turks had demands that we not implement it. They now realise that we want to address this issue similarly to Mam Jalal."

He added: "The PKK is not a terrorist organisation in my opinion. Those are not the terms I use. We can assist Türkiye in promoting peace and dialogue. We are helping them in these things, but it is not our job to shed Kurds' blood."

Iraq and the Middle East will be impacted if U.S. & Iran fail to come to a deal

Regarding the United States President Donald Trump's policies, President Bafel said: "U.S. President Donald Trump's policies are very realistic."

Regarding the United States and Iran's negotiations and their affects on Iraq, he said: "Iraq and the Middle East will be impacted if the United States and Iran are unable to come to a deal. Iraq needs to demonstrate to Iran and the United States that it is not a part of either country. The United States has made significant contributions to Iraq. Iraq is a strategic country and the whole world wants to have relations with it."

Our people need to be heard

Regarding Sulaymaniyah and the freedom of expression, he said" "We are making a mistake if Sulaymaniyah does not allow for freedom of expression. Our people need to be heard, and it is my responsibility to meet with individuals who are unhappy and those who have problems."

As for his trips around the city without his guards, he said: "I don't have guards in restaurants because if I do, it indicates that I haven't done my job properly and that the city is unsafe; having too many guards indicates that you are scared of your own people."

The stronger the PUK, the more we can help our people

Regarding his speeches during the election campaigns, he said: "I wanted to engage with the public during the election campaign. That was not my choice. That's my personality and my style. I don't act. The election process was fun and the Iraqi elections are underway."

He said: "We will not repeat the past mistakes. People have restored their trust in the PUK. The PUK has power in this election. The PUK has better relations and has more friends."

"The stronger the PUK, the more we can help our people," he added. "We will fulfill our election promises."

He further stated: "Discriminating between people is wrong. This Region was created with blood, more with the blood of the PUK, others have also given martyrs."



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