ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - In their New Year messages on Tuesday, Kurdish leaders called for expedited efforts to form the next government cabinet, more than two months after parliamentary elections were held.

In a message wishing the people of the Kurdistan Region a "Happy New Year”, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani urged for the formation of the next government cabinet “as soon as possible.”

“On the occasion of the arrival of 2025, I extend my warmest wishes for a Happy New Year for the people of the Kurdistan Region and all Kurdistanians. I wish them happiness and joy and a year full of peace and well-being for all,” Prime Minister Barzani said.

The premier “wished for the talks between the political parties to bear fruit as soon as possible on the formation of the new government cabinet, so a united and strong government could be formed to be at a level to face the current and future challenges without discrimination, and to serve all the components of the Kurdistan Region.”

After a two-year delay, and months of wrangling, the Kurdistan Region held its parliamentary elections on October 20.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, in his New Year message, called on the political parties to “jointly work to strengthen the position of the Kurdistan Region to achieve our just rights.”

He also called on the parties to “swiftly form the new Kurdistan Regional Government’s cabinet."

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) emerged as the first and second largest parties from the October polls, gaining 39 and 23 seats respectively.

The two parties appear poised to form the government, as most of the other parties have already declared their opposition. The KDP and the PUK, which administratively run the Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani provinces, respectively, have already held two rounds of talks on government formation, with leaders from both sides describing the meeting as “positive”.

KDP and PUK officials have previously told The New Region that their leadership will hold new rounds of talks in the new year to accelerate forming the government. 

The KDP’s President Masoud Barzani, in his New Year message to the people of the Kurdistan Region, echoed the sentiment that efforts need to be sped up to form the government.

“The Kurdistan parliament election in October was successfully held, and through the vote, the people of the Kurdistan Region got their message straight, and thus, their calls must be responded to, which is through the formation of the tenth cabinet, so the government could implement their plans and programs to serve the people of Kurdistan,” President Barzani said.

The KDP and PUK could realistically form the next cabinet without the inclusion of any other parties as they make up more than half of the legislature. Combined with the five minority quota seats, the winners of which are already believed to be affiliated with either of the two parties, the KDP and the PUK would have 67 lawmakers on their side, allowing them to pass or deny any legislation in the parliament with a two-thirds majority.

The PUK has reportedly told the KDP that it eyes the post of the Kurdistan Region president, with Qubad Talabani, the current deputy prime minister, being their potential candidate for the position, according to sources close to the parties.

The post of the president of the Kurdistan Region has traditionally been held by the KDP.

In addition to the presidency, the PUK has also demanded three top ministries: interior, natural resources, and municipalities, the New Region has learned.

The Kurdistan Region’s newly-elected members of parliament were sworn in earlier this month, officially commencing their legislative duties. By law, the lawmakers were supposed to elect a speaker during the first session, but the vote was not carried out due to failure to reach the legal quorum.

Both parties, and the New Generation Movement, have submitted candidates for the post of parliament speaker, but a session to vote on the position has yet to be announced.