Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan President Bafel Talabani in Baghdad, Feb. 26, 2026. Photo by the Prime Minister’s Media Office.
Sudani meets PUK’s Talabani amid push to break presidential deadlock
BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met Thursday with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan President Bafel Talabani to discuss political coordination and the need to complete constitutional entitlements, including the election of a president and formation of a new government.
The meeting addressed the general situation in the country and the importance of “national forces adopting a unified vision and working with shared responsibility to complete the constitutional entitlements and form a government capable of continuing the path of reconstruction and development,” according to a statement from Sudani’s media office.
The presidency, traditionally held by a Kurdish politician, remains unresolved. The KDP and PUK have yet to agree on a unified candidate — the PUK has nominated Nizar Amedi while the KDP backs Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Under the constitution, parliament must elect a president before tasking a prime minister nominee to form a government.
Senior Kurdish leader Hoshyar Zebari previously described a “positive atmosphere” in talks between KDP leader Masoud Barzani and Talabani, but also said it would be “difficult” for the next president to assign Maliki as prime minister “unless the international situation changes.”
The Coordination Framework nominated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki following November’s elections, a move that drew a public warning from President Donald Trump, who said Washington may halt support for Iraq if Maliki returns to power.
Full statement:
Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani received today, Thursday, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Mr. Bafel Talabani.
During the meeting, the general situation in the country was discussed, with emphasis on the necessity of maintaining coordination and cooperation among all political forces in confronting various challenges and supporting developmental and reform plans, in a manner that enhances stability across the country.
The meeting also underscored the importance of national forces adopting a unified vision and working with shared responsibility to complete the constitutional entitlements and form a government capable of continuing the path of reconstruction and development, in a way that positively reflects on the lives of citizens throughout Iraq.