Qubad Talabani: Iraq's Best Option is Federalism

Kurdistan 11:57 AM - 2023-10-12

Deputy Prime Minister

During a MERI Forum panel discussion on centralization versus decentralisation, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani stated that Iraq must maintain its multiculturalism and balance, that majority and minority rulings must cease, and that minorities must be safeguarded.

Iraq

Qubad Talabani stated: "The Federal Council is extremely important for Iraq, and while each province may have its own members, the council itself must be elected. It should be noted, however, that the call for federalism does not imply the division of Iraq but rather greater work performance."

"Federalism is the best option for multicultural Iraq, but we cannot assume that Iraq will become like Germany because people here think differently and the Sunnis, who previously opposed federalism, have changed their minds," he continued. 

He further stated: "Iraq is a federal state, as stated in the Constitution, but it must be clarified how this is so and how the nation is run, as the Constitution does not define the scope of government authority."

Kurdistan Region

Regarding the governance in the Kurdistan Region, Talabani stated, "The Kurdistan Region is part of Iraq, and because it lacks its own constitution, its rights are outlined in the Iraqi Constitution, as are the rights of other groups; however, decentralisation is necessary for the Kurdistan Region." 

"Due to the lack of a constitution, our administrative structure is convoluted and unclear, for instance, where a governor's authority begins and ends, which has strained relations between the administration and the people in power," he added.

Unquestionably, the Kurdistan Regional Government governs the province of Sulaymaniyah, but there is a tradition that seeks to disparage the city in public. As a result, some media outlets are actively striving to discredit Sulaymaniyah." Talabani said in regards to Sulaymaniyah.

The Deputy Prime Minister concluded the panel by saying: "We must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that the Kurdistan Region's current governance structure has flaws and needs to be fixed, in addition to the region's political unrest, which also needs to be resolved."


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