Peregraf - The National Stance Movement (Halwest), the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) also knowns Yakgirtu, and the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal)-three opposition parties holding a combined 10 seats in the Iraqi Parliament-met in Erbil on Sunday to discuss political coordination and a unified approach in Baghdad.
According to a joint statement, the parties reviewed mechanisms for cooperation in the federal capital, explored ways to address ongoing challenges, and stressed the need to safeguard the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional rights and financial entitlements.
"They agreed to continue their meetings and discussions," the statement said.
The gathering comes amid growing concern among Kurdish political forces over deep internal divisions that have weakened their influence in federal negotiations. Both the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Yakgirtu have recently launched separate initiatives to meet with other election-winning parties in an effort to establish a "joint roadmap" before engaging in talks in Baghdad.
The renewed push for dialogue follows months of sharp disagreement-particularly between the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)-which Kurdish officials and analysts warn has left the Kurdish position vulnerable at a time when Shiite and Sunni blocs appear united and well-prepared for Iraqi government formation talks.
The KIU, now the fourth-largest party in Kurdistan Region with four Iraqi parliamentary seats, has presented a proposal outlining key constitutional rights and core Kurdish demands. The roadmap has been shared with the KDP, PUK, Halwest, New Generation Movement, and Komal. According to KIU spokesperson Salahaddin Babakir, all sides responded positively and expressed willingness to go to Baghdad with a united stance.
Babakir previously said the KIU has called for an urgent political bureau–level meeting among all winning Kurdish parties to agree on a single roadmap and form a joint high committee to draft it.
The Yakgirtu’s proposal designates several issues as "Kurdish red lines" that must be guaranteed before supporting any future Iraqi prime minister. These include public salaries and the Kurdistan Region’s budget share, the implementation of Article 140, the federal Oil and Gas Law, and the rights of the Peshmerga forces.
For the same purpose, the KDP has begun a series of visits to Kurdish parties, urging unity and consensus ahead of negotiations in Baghdad.
In the sixth-term of Iraqi parliamentary elections, six Kurdish parties secured a total of 58 seats, in addition to five minority quota seats aligned with the KDP. The distribution is as follows: KDP – 27 seats + 5 quota seats; PUK – 18; Halwest – 5; Yakgirtu – 4; New Generation – 3; Komal – 1.