Explainer: Kirkuk's Location Government Formation Negotiations Shifts as PUK and KDP Vie for Control
An interesting and abrupt shift has occurred in Kirkuk's local government formation negotiations, with Arab factions now evenly divided between those who want to work with the PUK and those supporting the KDP and Turkmen Front.
A Kirkuk provincial council meeting was slated for today, as the PUK's five members, along with their allied Christian quota representative from the Babylon Movement, called for a session to elect a new governor. This initiative followed a breakthrough between the PUK and three Arab members, who had reached a tentative agreement to establish the local government. However, just prior to the session, the PUK deferred their call until next week under pressure from Baghdad to allow more time for a broader consensus.
With only 10 days remaining for the council to legally constitute a local government, the deadlock persists. A primary obstacle is the mutual refusal of the KDP and PUK to collaborate. Another challenge stems from Kirkuk's special law for local government, which mandates the inclusion of all three main components—Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen—in the government formation. Currently, the PUK, with the Christian quota, holds six seats, and together with three Arab members, they form a simple majority of nine out of the council's 16 total members. However, the Turkmen are not party to this agreement, with a proposal to keep their posts vacant until a mutual accord can be reached.
The results of the December 18, 2023 provincial council elections in Kirkuk consist of 16 seats:
This development marks a notable shift from last week when the Turkmen Front announced an alliance with the KDP and Arabs. The current issue lies in the division of Arab members between those aligned with Khamis Khanjar, a Sunni politician with strong ties to Turkey and the KDP, and others affiliated with Rakan al-Jibori, who aspires to be the exclusive Arab candidate for Kirkuk governor.
The agreement between the PUK-Babylon coalition and the three Arab members reportedly remains intact, but they are biding their time until the deadline to see if a consensus can be achieved. Other reports indicate that the Iraqi Prime Minister has urged the factions to reach an agreement within the next 10 days, or he will appoint a governor unilaterally. Some sources suggest he may nominate Khalid Shwani, a Kurdish PUK member, if no agreement is reached.
Furthermore, reports indicate that Turkey has been actively working to thwart a potential PUK governor, as Kirkuk is regarded as a city of strategic importance for Turkey. The PUK is accused of close collaboration with the PKK and the SDF, which further complicates the already intricate political landscape.