KDP and Taqadum renewed political coordination to strengthen Iraq’s stability and protect the country’s federal system.
The Kurdistan Region’s top leadership welcomed former Iraqi Parliament Speaker and Taqadum Party leader Mohammed al-Halbousi to Erbil in a visit that signaled a renewed effort to rebuild and strengthening political coordination between Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders after years of strained relations. The visit placed President Masoud Barzani at the center of discussions on Iraq’s future, with both sides stressing dialogue, partnership and support for Iraq’s constitutional and federal system.
President Masoud Barzani received Halbousi and his delegation in Erbil for talks focusing on political developments in Iraq, regional changes and relations between Erbil and Baghdad. According to the Presidency’s statement, both leaders exchanged views on the latest political developments and agreed that stronger coordination and communication among Iraq’s political parties are essential to overcome current obstacles and resolve outstanding issues.
President Barzani and Halbousi also underlined the importance of protecting Iraq’s democratic and federal system while supporting the federal government in a way that guarantees the constitutional rights of all communities and ensures equal services for all Iraqi citizens without discrimination. The message reflected the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s long-standing position that political dialogue and constitutional partnership remain the best path for resolving disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.
The meeting with President Barzani came after Halbousi was officially welcomed at Erbil International Airport by a senior Kurdistan Democratic Party delegation led by veteran Kurdish politician Hoshyar Zebari. Interior Minister Reber Ahmed, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw and several senior KDP officials also took part in receiving the delegation, highlighting the political importance attached to the visit.
Halbousi’s visit included separate meeting with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. He was accompanied by Ahmed Mazhar, head of the Taqadum parliamentary bloc, Iraqi Industry Minister Mohammed Tamim and senior Taqadum official Khalid Battal.
Following his meeting with Halbousi, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said Iraq’s current political and regional challenges require closer cooperation among national political forces rather than division.
“We discussed our bilateral relations and our relations with the Taqadum Party, as well as how we can cooperate and coordinate, especially under these sensitive circumstances and the situation that Iraq and the region are currently going through,” the Prime Minister said during a joint press conference.
PM Barzani said the Kurdistan Region would continue supporting Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s federal government and remain ready to cooperate with all political partners in Iraq.
“What is needed is that we should cooperate with the current government of Ali al-Zaidi so that it can manage all the crises the region is going through. We will continue supporting the federal government, and we are ready for every form of cooperation with our partners in Iraq,” he said.
For Halbousi, the visit represented more than a routine political meeting. Standing beside Prime Minister Barzani, he described the discussions as a continuation of earlier talks held in Baghdad and said Iraq’s current security and economic challenges demanded greater unity among political forces.
He said preserving state institutions and strengthening relations among Iraq’s political parties should take priority over past disagreements.
“We reaffirm our support for the federal government and Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi in implementing the government’s programme and preserving the country’s stability,” Halbousi said.
He added that political leaders had a responsibility to move beyond previous disputes and focus on the country’s higher national interests.
“There may have been political disagreements before, but today we are talking about the higher national interest, and that requires us to have a unified position,” he said.
After the meetings, Halbousi used his official X account to reinforce the same message publicly. He said his discussions with President Masoud Barzani had confirmed the importance of cooperation and joint coordination among Iraq’s political parties to support the federal government and fulfil the aspirations of citizens from all communities.
He also said the meeting reviewed regional and international developments and the security challenges facing Iraq, stressing that unified national positions are necessary to protect Iraq’s security and stability.
In a separate post following his meeting with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Halbousi said both sides agreed on strengthening political cooperation to confront current challenges while protecting Iraq’s democratic and federal system. He added that both parties supported the federal government’s programme and emphasized safeguarding the constitutional rights of all Iraqi communities while providing services fairly and equally across the country.
The timing of the visit carries significant political weight. Relations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Halbousi’s Taqadum Party weakened after Iraq’s previous parliamentary elections as shifting alliances reshaped Baghdad’s political landscape. Halbousi’s return to Erbil, and the warm reception he received from President Masoud Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and other senior Kurdish leaders, suggests both sides are seeking to restore a strategic partnership at a time when Iraq faces complex political, economic and regional challenges.
The visit also reflects a broader KDP effort to expand dialogue with influential Iraqi political forces and strengthen cooperation with partners capable of shaping relations between Erbil and Baghdad. Against a backdrop of regional instability and continuing political uncertainty, the meetings in Erbil presented a clear message that Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders see closer coordination, constitutional partnership and political dialogue as essential to preserving stability and protecting Iraq’s federal system.
The Kurdish Globe