photo Credit: Facebook/@Bafel Jala Talabani official Page
PM:09:25:05/08/2021
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SULAIMANI — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK)
Co-President Bafel Talabani met with tribal leaders on Thursday (August 5) with
the power struggle with his counterpart Lahur Sheikh Jangi continuing to rattle
the fractious party.
Talabani was accompanied by a number of his allies and
significant figures within the PUK, including his brother Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, his aunt Shanaz Ibrahim
Ahmad, Rizgar Ali, and Darbaz Kosrat Rasul.
Members of a number of tribes were present, including from
the Mikaily tribe, a source told NRT. Talabani did not specify in his statement
which tribes were invited.
On July 8, the Talabanis launched an effort to oust Sheikh
Jangi and his allies from positions of power within the PUK, which initially
appeared to be successful, with the latter saying he would temporarily step
down from the co-presidency while a new leadership structure was put in place.
But on August 2, Sheikh Jangi reversed his stance, vowing to
resist efforts to remove him.
In a statement released after Thursday’s meeting, Talabani
insisted that "any decision” made in the course of the leadership struggle were
"for reform and in the public interest and that the people of Sulaimani and
Kurdistan Region will benefit first.”
"The changes will continue and we want to provide a peaceful
environment for our people,” he added.
Tribes play a powerful role in the Kurdistan Region, often
at a deeper level than the political parties, and winning their support can be
critical for politicians.
Before the leadership struggle became public, Sheikh Jangi
had done much to convince some tribes in areas controlled by the Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KPD), including the Bradost and Harki, to support the PUK in
the upcoming parliamentary elections in October.
"We ask you to be with us now and step together to succeed,”
Talabani asked the tribal leaders during the meeting.
(NRT Digital Media)