PUK President Reaffirms Party’s Role in Safeguarding Iraq’s Unity

PUKMEDIA

PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani.

The President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has officially launched the party's campaign for the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections on Monday, 6 October 2025, reaffirming that only the PUK holds influence in Baghdad and can safeguard Iraq's unity.

PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani released a video message outlining the party’s objectives and emphasising the importance for citizens across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq to vote for the PUK.

He called on the public to approach the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections with seriousness, urging voters to support candidates “who can work effectively in Baghdad” and safeguard both Kurdish and national interests.

“This election is as important as the previous one. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” he said. “This is the Iraqi parliamentary elections. Like it or not, many of the important and crucial decisions are made in Baghdad. Go and vote – vote for those who would be able to work in Baghdad.”

“Looking back over recent years, what has the PUK done and where has the PUK reached? More important than that is who has friends in Baghdad? Who can carry out its tasks in Baghdad? And who has a say in Baghdad? You know better than me that it is the PUK,” he stressed.

President Bafel continued by highlighting the trust people place in the party: “When we say something, we implement it. It is not a coincidence that when a problem occurs in Sulaymaniyah or in Kurdistan, people come to the PUK. When there is a security issue, people knock on the PUK's door. When students have problems, they knock on the PUK's door. When teachers protest or boycott, they knock on the PUK's door.”

He recalled a personal encounter: “Something strange happened to me. I visited the striking teachers. There was a very harsh woman – and she had every right to be harsh. None of us are happy with the teachers’ situation. She told me, ‘Only you can do this’ [fix the situation & their problems]. So I asked her who she voted for in the last election. She told me she had voted for another party, one that makes promises but takes no action. I asked her, why not go to them for your solution? She replied, ‘Bafel, it cannot be done by them.’ I told her, then why did you waste your vote?”

President Bafel urged voters not to repeat such mistakes: “I urge you, don’t waste your votes. Vote for a party that does not run from responsibility. One that is not afraid of struggle or of fighting for your rights. You can call the PUK many things, but no one can say the PUK is afraid. My dears, we are your power in Baghdad.”

The PUK President underlined that the vote is not only about salaries, but about Kurdish rights, coexistence, and Iraq’s stability: “Our cause in Baghdad is much bigger than salaries. Salaries are a fundamental part of the problem, but our concern is Kurdistan – its rights, coexistence, and international policy, a policy that understands the changes happening in this world.”

He said: “I told you a year ago what would happen between Israel and Iran, and I explained what would happen to oil prices and what dangers they posed for Kurdistan. I ask you: why don’t other parties saw these things? What programme do they have to solve them? What new things have you seen in other parties? What new programme have they presented? They keep making empty promises, asking for votes without delivering.”

He went on: “When times are rough, who goes to Baghdad? Who carries out the tasks? Who provides salaries? Who responds to the militias? You all know who has never sold out Kurdistan’s land to any enemy or partner, who defends our brothers and sisters in all four parts of Kurdistan, and who has been central to maintaining peace among Kurds in Syria, Türkiye, and Iraq.”

President Bafel said the PUK has transformed into the party envisioned by its late founder, Mam Jalal: “The PUK today is the PUK you have always wanted – the PUK that Mam Jalal and the other strugglers founded, a party that fights for Kurdistan’s rights and never retreats. It is a party that has achieved so much in Kirkuk despite significant threats.”

He added: “Today’s Kirkuk cannot be compared with four years ago. Look at the coexistence among its communities, look at the projects being delivered to all. This is Mam Jalal’s PUK, fulfilling his programme. We honour his path, we follow it, and we learn from it. But more important than safeguarding Mam Jalal’s path is implementing his programme.”

He stressed that stronger representation in Baghdad means a stronger Kurdistan: “The stronger we are in Baghdad, the more beautiful Kurdistan will be. The stronger we are in Baghdad, the better your lives will be. My goal is for your children not to suffer as you have.”

He said: “The job unavailable to you today must be available tomorrow for you and for your children. Kurdistan wants what every European country wants: freedom, respect, security, jobs after graduation, water, electricity – basic rights that should have been achieved years ago. The PUK will deliver them.”

President Bafel emphasised that only the PUK has strong relations with all parties and communities in Baghdad, “to serve Kurdistan and to protect its rights.”

He added: “These elections are simpler than others. They are about Baghdad and who can work for you there? I swear it is clear, and you know it too.”

Appealing to young voters, he said: “We have young people with loyalty and intelligence, full of energy, voting for the first time. Who will you vote for – a party that created the very problems you suffer from, or a party that has renewed itself, the only one to achieve results in recent years without arrogance?”

He reaffirmed: “We are part of you. We are the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Who can safeguard Iraq’s unity? Who is entrusted with it? The PUK has always faced responsibility while others ran from it or created the problems themselves.”

President criticised parties dependent on foreign support: “Unfortunately, some parties rely on other countries. But Iraq’s problems can be solved by us – by Kurds, by Iraqis, by Yazidis, Turkmen, Christians, all Iraqi communities. Iraq needs a national programme of its own, independent of foreign interference.”

He said: “Iraq must remember its greatness – the country that gave mathematics, medicine, and astronomy to the world.”

He stressed the importance of the constitution as the foundation for solutions: “All of our problems can be solved through the Iraqi constitution. It is sacred, not a menu from which you pick only what you like. From Article 140 to the rights of the Peshmerga, it must all be implemented.”

President Bafel reaffirmed PUK achievements on salaries, oil, and security, but said much more remains to be done: “The Peshmerga must be treated as the Iraqi army, with equal salaries and privileges, as must the Asayish, police, and other forces. The PUK has a programme for the future – from technology centres to AI and renewable energy. We are preparing for the day when oil will no longer sustain us.”

On government formation in the Kurdistan region, he stressed: “The PUK’s goal is to serve you. We will not join a government unless it is capable of serving you. Do not complain about delays – thank us for refusing to lie to you.”

President Bafel also underlined the PUK’s international role: “In the past three years, the PUK and its allies shielded Iraq from bloodshed and crises. It is the PUK that engages with Washington, Tehran, Moscow, and London. This is Mam Jalal’s party, following his path.”

Addressing Iraq’s diverse communities, he said: “We are Mam Jalal’s party. If you are Christian, Turkmen, Shia', or Sunni, we see you as equal. We want nothing from you but to serve. Look at Kirkuk today – communities living in peace. That is our goal for all Iraq.”

President concluded with a call to action: “I reaffirm, again and again: only the PUK can struggle and fight for you as necessary. Do you want to know who to vote for? Vote for the PUK – List 222.”

The PUK is contesting the 2025 Iraqi parliamentary elections, scheduled for 11 November, across several governorates, presenting its candidates on an independent list numbered 222 in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah (including Halabja), Duhok, Kirkuk, and Diyala. In Nineveh Governorate, the PUK is running as part of the "Nineveh People’s Union Coalition" with list number 281, while in Saladin it is fielding one candidate within the "National Masses Coalition" with list number 240.

Overall, the PUK is entering the elections with 156 candidates: 36 in Sulaymaniyah, 30 in Erbil, 5 in Duhok, 24 in Kirkuk, 28 in Diyala, 31 in Nineveh within the Nineveh People’s Union coalition, and one candidate each in Saladin and Baghdad.



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