PUK, the Hope of Empowering Youth by Youth

Dr Dara Khailany

Written by Dr Dara Khailany

Among the many signs of progress, the internal organisational modernisation efforts within PUK stand out as the most promising. Change in political agendas and programmes is generally positive. However, no change comes without risks. Yet, if risks are carefully calculated and properly managed, their negative effects can either be eliminated or at least greatly reduced.
Since its establishment in 1975, PUK has been known for its ever-changing dynamics in party structure and policies. Of course, the main causes and principles upon which it was founded have never been compromised. These principles include the struggle to achieve full democracy in Iraq, complete freedom — including freedom of the press — the preservation of human rights, and the Kurdish right to self-determination.
These principles cannot be isolated nor disintegrated. Without democracy, no freedom could be meaningful, no human rights could be secured, and the right to self-determination would never become a serious issue for discussion whenever demanded by the people. Although reevaluating strategies and processes may lead to different methods of struggle, relying on human potential and intellectual ambition remains an everlasting asset that any political body can utilise. This requires thoughtful planning and effective management of both human and intellectual resources.
The need to overhaul the traditional and obsolete structures and practices within PUK has become increasingly urgent, prompting the implementation of modern reforms within the party. Discussions in PUK Forum 1 and PUK Forum 2, as well as the objectives of the PUK Organisation Bureau Conference in 2024, in addition to numerous Politburo and Leadership Council meetings, helped establish a comprehensive set of necessary reforms and orchestrated a thoughtful implementation plan. This plan was launched at the beginning of 2026 and continues to be carried out.
The core of this plan is to empower the party’s young and creative members. Although achieving these goals may be difficult, especially in the face of resistance from old-fashioned mindsets, the determination to elevate the party to the level of its peers in the world of social democratic parties remains paramount. Led by the president of PUK and fully supported by the party’s elite cadres, the effort to modernise the party’s structure and functions will not only succeed, but will also bring new life to the party’s working environment. This will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the people of Kurdistan and Iraq.
Many educated young people have bravely criticised the old style of politics in Kurdistan and within the party. These reforms come as a result of their honest criticism and are intended to respond to the changes they demanded and that were genuinely needed. Therefore, it is natural that these educated young minds should be entrusted with fulfilling the needs of current and future politics in the region and around the world. Listening to the people and responding to their needs is a responsibility that no serious political party should ignore. Once again, PUK is taking the lead and spearheading this phenomenon in the region.
The stagnation of ideologies and political agendas is one of the worst illnesses from which any political movement can suffer. PUK is aware of this reality. No change should be considered too large or too risky to pursue. PUK is rising to the challenge, and the results are already promising.