Peregraf- Bafel Talabani, president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), released his first video message on Monday to mark the start of the campaign for Iraq’s parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025.
Talabani urged voters to support the PUK, emphasizing that the party is actively working in Baghdad to secure the rights and needs of the people.
“Vote for the PUK, which is working in Baghdad. Kurdistan will be more beautiful and your life will be better,” he said, pledging that his party would prioritize basic services, jobs, and salaries.
He criticized the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s failure to provide essential services, despite the PUK being one of the main participants in the KRG and the ruling party in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja provinces. "I am surprised that after all these years, salaries, water, and electricity have not been provided yet. The PUK will provide them for you," he stated.
Talabani presented himself as close to ordinary people, saying: “Mud houses are our houses. When I turn around, taxis, pickups and buses greet me, not Rolls-Royces or Lamborghinis.”
He underlined key priorities for the PUK’s campaign:
• Salaries as a right for workers
• Employment opportunities for graduates
• Access to water and electricity
He also warned that unless a new government proves different from its predecessors, the formation of the tenth cabinet in the Kurdistan Region should be delayed.
Reflecting on the PUK’s political strength, Talabani noted that the party’s vote increased by 93% in the last Kurdistan parliamentary elections. He also highlighted Baghdad as the center of ongoing challenges.
“Our problem in Baghdad is bigger than salaries. Who will go to Baghdad when the situation becomes difficult? Who has not sold Kurdistan?” he asked, drawing a contrast with rival political forces.