The “Kurdistan Coalition between the PUK and Gorran was the product of series of meetings and understandings between both sides," Gorran General Coordinator Omer Said Ali said.
PUK Co-President Bafel Talabani said that “this agreement is to unify our people and it is not for opposing any parties,” likely referring to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Talabani promised to not leave Gorran “alone in the field again,” signaling his hope that the two parties would continue to cooperate moving forward.
PUK Co-President Lahur Sheikh Jangi said that “today we unified a large part of our people.”
“We do politics to serve our people. We promise that we, together, will defend our nation and people,” added Sheikh Jangi, who will serve as the chair of the list.
Gorran formed in 2009 as a split from the PUK. In recent years, there have been several abortive attempts to increase bilateral cooperation, most notably the 2016 Dabashan Agreement. Both share a powerbase in Sulaimani governorate.
Their intent to form an electoral alliance was announced on May 1.
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