SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Change Movement (Gorran) signed their agreement to form “Kurdistan Coalition” for the upcoming Iraqi elections.
The parties reached an agreement in May to form Kurdistan Coalition and to run in Iraq’s early elections as one list, led by PUK co-leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi.
Leaders and members from the PUK and Gorran attended a ceremony in Sulaimani on Sunday to sign their agreement.
PUK Co-president Bafel Talabani said during the ceremony that the agreement was the “first step towards fulfilling the dreams of Mam Jalal and Nawshirwan Mustafa”.
“This unity should be an effort for a better Sulaimani, a better Kurdistan and a better Iraq,” Talabani noted.
“If we work in this spirit, we will provide a good service. The situation in Kurdistan is not good enough, and we must work together to complete their program,” he added, referring to late president Mam Jalal Talabani and Nawshirwan Mustafa, former leaders of the PUK and Gorran.
Meanwhile, Gorran general coordinator Omer Said Ali said both parties had approved the agreement “with a responsible feeling”.
“We have made the decision after reading the political situation in the context of the changes taking place in the field,” he added.
Iraq is scheduled to hold early parliamentary elections on October 10, which was one of the main demands of anti-government protesters who organized months of mass demonstrations beginning in October 2020.
The vote is held every four years, but anti-government protesters demanded early elections.
