Without power, New Generation won’t join government: Shaswar

Without power, New Generation won’t join government, says Shaswar — Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the New Generation Movement ((Cûłanewey Newey Nwê), Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan,January 18, 2025. Photo: Screengrab/NRT TV

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan,— Shaswar Abdulwahid, the leader of the New Generation Movement (NGM) (Cûłanewey Newey Nwê), has declared that his party will not join the regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan unless it is granted real authority.

Abdulwahid revealed that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) had approached his party once, while representatives from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) visited them twice to discuss forming a coalition government.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Abdulwahid disclosed that KDP officials proposed negotiations over all positions except the presidency and prime ministership of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). However, he rejected the offer, stating that NGM would not accept symbolic roles or participate in a government where they could not deliver on promises made to voters.

“If the Kurdistan Parliament fails to convene by Wednesday, interim Speaker Muhammad Sulaiman will step down and return to his role as an ordinary Member of Parliament,” Abdulwahid warned, emphasizing the urgency of the political deadlock. He also outlined his demands, calling for a significant reshuffling of ministries and key government positions.

The New Generation leader criticized the KDP’s unwillingness to relinquish its dominant control over the KRG. He revealed that the KDP had offered NGM six ministries and several other posts, but this was rejected. “We want to bring real change to Kurdistan, but with deputy posts, nothing can be achieved,” Abdulwahid said.

Following the October 2024 elections, NGM secured 15 seats in the Kurdistan Parliament, positioning itself as a critical voice against the KDP and PUK. The KDP emerged as the leading party with 39 seats, while the PUK took second place with 32. The elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were postponed for two years due to political disputes.

Abdulwahid emphasized that his party would support the formation of a government with a majority opposition coalition of 50 or more seats but would not accept cabinet positions without genuine influence with KDP. He reiterated NGM’s commitment to reform and its refusal to serve in a symbolic capacity under the current power structure.

The political landscape in Iraqi Kurdistan remains sharply divided. The KDP, led by the Barzani family, controls the Erbil and Duhok governorates, while the PUK, led by the Talabani family, governs Sulaimani. NGM’s rise as a third force highlights growing dissatisfaction with the traditional power-sharing arrangements between the KDP and PUK.