SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Bafel Jalal Talabani met with Shia leaders of the Coordination Framework in Baghdad on Wednesday to discuss an initiative aiming at solving a political stalemate in Iraq.
A high-level delegation of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Talabani met with Shia leaders Nouri al-Malki, Hadi al-Amiri and Qais al-Khazali at the house of former president Mam Jalal Talabani in Baghdad.
Both sides discussed “the Coordination Framework’s initiative as a gateway to get rid of the political stalemate in Iraq”, Talabani’s office said in a statement.
They also stressed that the initiative “should be designed in a way that serves the political process in Iraq and create dialogue and mutual understanding between the political parties”, the statement read.
It should also be “coincided with the legitimate demands of people and serve the high interests so as to build a peaceful and stable future.”
Iraq entered a political stalemate after the Council of Representatives failed to select a president in three sessions due to disagreements between the political parties.
Under a power-sharing system designed to avoid sectarian conflict, Iraq’s president is a Kurd, its prime minister a Shia and its parliament speaker a Sunni.
A tripartite alliance formed by the Sadrist Movement led by Shia cleric leader Moqtada al-Sadr, Sunni Taqaddum party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) attempted to form the largest parliamentary bloc to elect KDP’s presidential candidate Rebar Ahmed, competing against incumbent Barham Salih of the PUK.
Following the alliance’s failure, Sadr said he would give the Coordination Framework the chance to form the country’s next government.
The 40-day window offered by Sadr started on Saturday on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
