Various Turkmen parties have united in recent years to try to restore their status.
Shemsettin, the journalist, said, “After the events of 2014, the Turkmen [parliament members] began to move together and established the Iraqi Turkmen Coordination Council, which includes Shiite and Sunni figures as well as figures from various political views, all of which became unified.” He added, “The Turkmen public, elites and intellectuals are generally pleased with this move.”
Turkmen parties were also able to establish armed factions within the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in mixed areas such as Tuz Khormato and al-Bashir. Shiite forces such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq backed the Turkmen PMU factions to pressure the Kurds in these areas.
The central Iraqi government and the Turkish government both reject the Kurdish referendum, which Turkmens see as an opportunity to strengthen their positions in Iraq and push for greater gains. The Turkmens hope the liberation of Hawija and adjacent areas as well as pressure from the federal forces will ultimately weaken the Kurds in these areas.
After long years of division, Turkmens are trying to advance in the political game and exploit events that have weakened their Kurdish rivals. However, nothing is guaranteed in light of unpredictable events and the ever-shifting alliances in crisis-ridden Iraq.
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