"There is currently a strategy by the Iraqi Kurdish parties to ensure there is a unified stance in Baghdad. This stance appears to be insulated from the political rivalries inside Iraqi Kurdistan," Ahmed Ali, a research fellow at the American University of Iraq in Sulaimaniyah, told Al-Monitor.
Although Gorran has joined the Kurdish consensus in Baghdad with regard to Abadi's moves, Sirwa Abdulwahid, a member of parliament from the party, said they support the prime minister's reforms. "His reform efforts are good," Abdulwahid told Al-Monitor. She added, "What we are against in regard to Abadi's reforms is that the Kurdish representation in Baghdad’s institutions should not fall below 20% of the posts."
Of the 14 ministers proposed by Abadi for his new Cabinet, only two are Kurdish.
Abdulwahid said her party, like other Kurdish groups, is against Abadi's decision "to pick ministers for us. Everywhere in the world, political blocs pick their nominees and they are the ones representing people politically."
The Kurdish members of parliament who Al-Monitor spoke to said Abadi's nominees for the ministerial positions will be most likely rejected by parliamentary blocs. They say Abadi now either has to accept "technocratic" individuals put forward by political groups or risk facing a no-confidence motion by the members of parliament.
Amid the newfound Kurdish unity in Baghdad, some politicians are already calling for the unity in Baghdad to be used as an opportunity to mend fences inside the Kurdish house as well.
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