ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court on Sunday dismissed a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and New Generation Movement (NGM) request for an injunction to halt the Kurdistan Parliament following its reactivation, The New Region has learned. 

The PUK and NGM filed complaints seeking an injunction to halt the Kurdistan Parliament after it was reactivated earlier in November. 

The parliament was reactivated after 52 lawmakers attended the session and elected its presidency, with quorum met after several lawmakers from the PUK, NGM, and other opposition blocs attended, in defiance of their party lines. 

The New Region has learned that Iraq’s top court rejected a request seeking to temporarily suspend the Kurdistan Parliament, and no temporary judicial suspension will be imposed. 

Following the parliament’s reactivation, PUK leader Bafel Talabani announced the party’s withdrawal from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). He further revealed plans for the establishment of a potential separate government.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday stressed the importance of preserving the Kurdistan Region's sovereignty and called on residents to stand against attempts to divide it.

“We will not hold back on anything to protect the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region and prevent its division,” Barzani said.

“My request to the people of Kurdistan is this, and I am certain that every loyal and patriotic Kurd and Kurdistani will stand against any attempt to divide the Kurdistan Region,” he added.

Top leaders within the KDP, including President Masoud Barzani and the Region’s prime minister, have repeatedly stressed that the parliament’s reactivation is not directed at any party or political force, with President Barzani and the Kurdistan parliament presidency officially calling on the PUK to return to the legislature for the general interest of the Region.

The PUK is the KDP’s main rival, and the two parties have traditionally governed the Region together. They emerged as the two largest parties in the last parliamentary elections. The KDP won 39 seats, while the PUK secured 23.