​​​​​​​Sheikh Raouf: KDP is trying to monopolize all leadership positions in Iraq and southern Kurdistan

Iraq is witnessing a crisis in forming new Iraqi government after the parliamentary elections that took place on October 10, 2021, where "Sairoon" alliance led by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr came first in the elections, but this victory did not enable al-Sadr, who announced an alliance with Massoud Barzani and Muhammad al-Halbousi from forming the government, and announcing the president of the republic and head of the government for the country.

And KDP in a move to tighten its grip on Iraq, Kurdistan Democratic Party violated the agreement between it and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, regarding the sovereign and leadership positions in Iraq and southern Kurdistan, as it announced its candidacy from within KDP for the position of the Presidency of Republic, despite the fact that the position is designated for the Patriotic Union according to the previous agreements.

Sheikh Raouf, from southern Kurdistan, believes that the main reason for the Iraqi government formation crisis is the intransigence of some power and their marginalization of other political forces, and the preference for their partisan interests over the supreme interest of Iraqi people.

Regarding KDP's efforts to provoke the crisis of presidential candidate, and to neutralize and reduce the role of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Burhan Raouf explained that KDP is always trying to monopolize all leadership and sovereign positions in Iraq and southern Kurdistan.

Raouf confirmed that PUK insisted on its positions, and said: "In the previous period, there was an agreement between the two parties (Kurdistan Democratic Party - Patriotic Union) on the distribution of positions in Iraq and the region, and in order to maintain this balance, Patriotic Union continues to demand its dues in leadership positions, especially the presidency of Iraqi Republic, but Kurdistan Democratic Party insisted until this moment on its position and presenting one candidate after another to obtain this position, in order to overthrow Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Raouf said that: "Patriotic Union will not give up its dues in the presidency, and will cooperate with allies in order to remain as major power in Iraq working for the rights of Kurdish people and Kurdish cause in general."

'Turkey is trying to take more land'

Raouf touched on Turkish role and its endeavors to expand its occupation in southern Kurdistan in cooperation with Kurdistan Democratic Party, and to benefit from the current crisis. He said: "the ambitions of Turkish occupation state in the Iraqi lands is clear from a long time, and these attempts continue, and these ambitions intensify when there is a political crisis, political blockage and lack of understanding between the components of Iraqi people, and Turkey is trying to exploit them and seize more lands and intervene in its affairs and disrespect for the sovereignty of Iraq."

Sh-S

ANHA