What Does “We Are Your Power in Baghdad” Mean?

P.U.K 03:49 PM - 2025-10-11

PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani.

As the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) launches its campaign for the Iraqi parliamentary elections, the party's candidates across Kurdistan stress that the party’s strength in Baghdad is crucial for protecting Kurdish rights, improving livelihoods, and resolving longstanding regional issues. From Sulaymaniyah to Diyala, PUK candidates emphasise that a strong presence in the capital ensures that the people’s voices are heard and their constitutional rights upheld.

PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani launched the party’s campaign for the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections under the motto, “We Are Your Power in Baghdad”, outlining the PUK’s policies and priorities for the next four years.

In a video message, President Bafel emphasised the party’s commitment to representing the Kurdish people and Iraq’s citizens in the capital, calling on voters to choose candidates capable of working effectively in Baghdad to safeguard Kurdish and national interests.

“When we say something, we implement it,” he said. “When problems arise in Sulaymaniyah or across Kurdistan, people come to the PUK. When there is a security issue, students or teachers in difficulty, they knock on the PUK’s door. The PUK is the party of action, responsibility, and struggle. My dears, we are your power in Baghdad.”

President Bafel highlighted that the vote is about more than salaries: “Salaries are part of the issue, but our focus is Kurdistan—its rights, coexistence, and international policy in a changing world.”

Strong Candidates, Clear Mission

Barzan Mohammed, candidate number 3 in Sulaymaniyah, told PUKMEDIA that the party has nominated strong candidates to serve as the people’s force in Baghdad, focusing on peace, welfare, and improving livelihoods, while pursuing goals within the framework of the Iraqi constitution.

In a statement to PUKMEDIA, Nasih Jaber Ali, candidate number 3 in Kirkuk, noted the PUK’s proven record in Baghdad: “The Kurds' problems in Baghdad can only be solved by the PUK. Through President Bafel’s diplomatic efforts, we serve the Kurdish people. That is why we are the people's power in Baghdad.”

Sirwan Jabar Khazr, candidate number 7 in Diyala, explained to PUKMEDIA: “PUK's motto "We are Your Power in Baghdad" means that the stronger is the PUK in Baghdad, the more the Kurds enjoy their constitutional rights. Unlike the Kurdistan Region, the disputed areas require a strong force to defend our rights. The PUK is that force, and voters recognise it as the only party capable of protecting their interests in Baghdad.”

Proven Record in Baghdad

Over the past four years, during the fifth term of the Iraqi parliament, President Bafel Jalal Talabani consistently represented Kurdish interests in Baghdad, meeting with senior Iraqi officials and political leaders to ensure the rights of the Kurdish people were protected. The recent agreement to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region serves as a clear example of the PUK’s effective advocacy and sustained efforts under President Bafel’s leadership.

With the campaign now underway, the PUK continues to position itself as the primary defender of Kurdish rights and national interests in Baghdad, urging citizens to cast their votes for the party that delivers results.



PUKMEDIA