Iraqi Kurdish party leader Talabani announces exit from regional government - Anadolu Ajansı

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the main Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, on Thursday announced that it is withdrawing from the regional government and will not recognize the recent parliament session or any decisions that come from it.

PUK President Bafel Talabani announced the decision in a video message to supporters late Thursday, sharply criticizing the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Talabani declared that his party would withdraw from what he called a "failed government" with immediate effect.

"A minority within the KDP proved today that they do not know what democracy is, that they hold zero respect for you, the voters, and they proved today that they do not know how governance should be conducted in this country," he said.

Talabani also accused members of the rival party of using public funds to influence lawmakers.

He claimed the same group had shown it was willing to use public money "to buy members of parliament, and use your money to threaten MPs."

The PUK leader warned that his party would respond to any unilateral appointments by the KDP with parallel moves.

"You appoint a President of the Region, we will appoint a President of the Region. You appoint ministers, we will appoint ministers. You appoint a Prime Minister, we will appoint a Prime Minister," he said.

"Whatever you do over there, we will do right here," Talabani added.

The announcement followed the regional parliament's first session to elect its leadership in nearly two years.

The PUK and the New Generation Movement boycotted the sitting, but a small number of individual lawmakers from those parties attended, allowing the session to proceed.