Osman urged political parties and officials in Kurdistan Region not to set their goals according to their old friendship with the Iraqi PM-designate Adil Abdul Mahdi.

Answering a question about the election of Kurdish politician and a leading member of the PUK, Barham Salih, as Iraq’s president and the impact of his election on Iraq and Kurdistan Region politics and relation, Osman stated that the Iraqi constitution has not given many privileges to the president but the president can make important decisions and take serious steps according to the constitution.

He further added that it is too early to make any judgment about the president and his abilities it is better to wait and see that how influential he would be in Iraq and Kurdistan region politics.

Osman further stated in the interview that the KDP cannot form government in Kurdistan Region without the PUK.

mentioning to the tension between the KDP and the PUK, Osman stated that the KDP has stated that their old deal with the PUK is over as the PUK nominated its candidate for Iraq presidency, Barham Salih, unilaterally and without any negotiation with the KDP. meanwhile, the PUK believes that the KDP Deputy Leader and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has the powers of both the region’s PM and president and it is the right of the PUK to nominate its candidate for Iraq presidency unilaterally.

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