Barzani calls for mechanism on presidency, constitutional commitment from next premier

ERBIL — Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani said Monday that an appropriate mechanism is needed to select Iraq’s next president and stressed that the future prime minister must be committed to the constitution and federal principles.

In a meeting with Tom Barrack, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy for Syrian affairs and U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Barzani addressed developments related to government formation, according to a statement from his headquarters.

On the presidency, Barzani said that since the position is the Kurdish people’s share, “there must be an appropriate mechanism for selecting a presidential candidate that reflects the will of the people of Kurdistan.”

Regarding the premiership, he noted that the Coordination Framework decides who its candidate will be, adding that it is important that the next prime minister be committed to “the constitution and the principles of partnership, balance and consensus.”

Barzani also reiterated that Iraq’s next government must adhere to the constitution and the principles of federalism, and that laws should be enacted to resolve outstanding issues.

The presidency remains unresolved following the 2025 parliamentary elections, with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan continuing negotiations over a unified Kurdish candidate. Senior Kurdish leader Hoshyar Zebari recently said there is a “positive atmosphere” in talks between KDP leader Masoud Barzani and PUK leader Bafel Talabani, adding that the KDP asked the Coordination Framework “to leave the decision on selecting the president of the republic to the Kurds,” while Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein remains its candidate.

At the same time, the premiership has been the subject of broader political debate after the Shiite Coordination Framework nominated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. His candidacy has faced internal divisions and external scrutiny, including warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington may halt support for Iraq if Maliki returns to office. Maliki has said he will not withdraw voluntarily, maintaining that any change must come through a formal decision by the Coordination Framework.

Statement from Barzani Headquarters:

President Barzani receives U.S. President Trump’s envoy for Syria and U.S. ambassador to Turkey

On Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Pirmam, President Masoud Barzani received Tom Barrack, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy for Syrian affairs and the U.S. ambassador to Turkey.

The meeting was also attended by Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. Barrack expressed his pleasure at meeting President Barzani and conveyed his appreciation for Barzani’s role in preventing the expansion of war and violence, as well as his efforts to calm recent developments in Syria and support the agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces. He noted that President Barzani’s wisdom and guidance could also be helpful in addressing Iraq’s challenges. Barrack emphasized that his country wants Iraq to be fully sovereign and that, within this framework, it is important for the United States to maintain relations and partnership with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

During the meeting, President Barzani highlighted the history and struggle of the people of Kurdistan and the crimes and genocide committed against them. He pointed out that the Kurdish people have always sought peace and coexistence and have aimed to resolve issues away from violence. Regarding Iraq, Barzani stressed that adherence to the constitution and the principles of partnership, consensus and balance would enable Iraq to develop and move forward. He added that the interests of Iraq’s people lie in implementing the constitution, ensuring Iraq’s sovereignty and independent decision-making, maintaining mutual interests with neighboring countries, and preserving the partnership between the United States and Iraq.

President Barzani reiterated that Iraq’s next government must be committed to implementing the constitution and the principles of federalism. He also called for the passage of laws to resolve outstanding issues important to Iraq’s future, including the oil and gas law, Article 140, and other legislation related to the application of federal principles in the Iraqi state.

On the presidency, President Barzani stated that since the position is the Kurdish people’s share, there must be an appropriate mechanism for selecting a presidential candidate that reflects the will of the people of Kurdistan. Regarding the Iraqi premiership, he noted the need to uphold Iraq’s national interests and said that the Coordination Framework decides who its candidate will be. From their perspective, he added, it is important that the prime minister be committed to the constitution and to the principles of partnership, balance and consensus.

The internal political process in the Kurdistan Region and the broader regional situation were also discussed. President Barzani expressed hope that the region’s problems would be resolved peacefully and that the area would remain free from war and violence.