BAGHDAD: After four decades with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), veteran politician Barham Salih announced the formation of a new party to participate in parliamentary elections in Iraqi Kurdistan, scheduled for Nov. 1.
鈥淭oday, crises weigh heavily on our people in Kurdistan, as a result of the dominance of a group of stakeholders over its capabilities,鈥� said Salih, who served as prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) from 2009 to 2012, and deputy prime minister of Iraq from 2005 to 2009.
His new party, the Alliance for Democracy and Justice, aims 鈥渢o fight injustice, corruption and monopoly鈥� in Iraqi Kurdistan, he added.
鈥淚n response to the suffering (of Kurds), division, monopoly, conflict, the language of defamation and accusations of treason, our coalition has emerged to achieve social and political harmony, and to address the problems and crises accumulated due to mismanagement.鈥�
Iraqi Kurdistan has been autonomous since 1991. Its autonomy was strengthened after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, with a regional government and separate security forces.
The most influential political parties in the region are the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), headed by Masoud Barzani, and the PUK.
They have monopolized power in Iraqi Kurdistan since the 1990s, and have shared positions in the federal government for the last 14 years.
Salih was part of this system until he left Baghdad in 2012. The following year, he threatened to resign from the PUK in protest over the lack of transparency regarding party funds and decision-making mechanisms after its then-leader, Jalal Talabani, suffered a stroke.
A former Iraqi Kurdish ambassador and friend of Salih told Arab News on condition of anonymity that after the stroke, 鈥渢he families (of Talabani and Barzani) took control of the leadership of the region.鈥�
Salih 鈥渨as Talabani鈥檚 stepson, but he wasn鈥檛 a family member, so he was excluded by the family,鈥� the former envoy said.
鈥淎lso, he wasn鈥檛 a Peshmerga (fighter), so none of the PUK鈥檚 old political leaders backed his nomination for any regional or federal post.鈥�
Salih 鈥� founder of the American University of Iraq-Sulaimaniya, and chairman of its board of trustees 鈥� has built a popular base among youths and intellectuals.
Repoar Kareem, a member of the Alliance for Democracy and Justice, told Arab News that most of its members 鈥渁re young academics, experts, engineers, physicians and professors.鈥�
He added: 鈥淲e focused on those who have vision and ideas, and who can come up with solutions for Iraq鈥檚 major problems.鈥�
No prominent political figures have been mentioned as party members. 鈥淚f some senior leaders of the PUK and Gorran (the third-biggest party in Iraqi Kurdistan) defected to join Salih, he may get a role鈥� in the KRG or the federal government, Abdullah Al-Zaidi, a leader of Iraq鈥檚 Shiite National Alliance, told the Arab News.
Salih spent a long time in the US, having been assigned to run the PUK鈥檚 office there in 1992, so many Iraqi politicians see him as America鈥檚 man in the region and in the PUK.
He 鈥渦sed to represent US interests in the PUK, in the face of most of the leaders of the party, who represented Iranian interests,鈥� Iraqi political analyst Abdulwahid Tuam told Arab News.
鈥淪ince he left the PUK and hasn鈥檛 enjoyed the support of Iran, his chances of getting a senior post in Baghdad has significantly decreased.鈥�
But Talabani鈥檚 death on Monday could lead to a succession challenge and subsequent divisions within the PUK. This could strengthen Salih鈥檚 position and bring more recruits to his new party.
鈥淗e鈥檒l get seats in the Kurdish Parliament, but how this would impact the internal situation will depend on the names that join him,鈥� said the former Kurdish ambassador.
鈥淭he situation in Baghdad is different. He may eye the presidency, but it鈥檚 almost impossible without the backing of the real players in Baghdad.鈥�