Iraqi president's absence rocks Kurdistan’s political apple

[Aslan]

Talabani is also the founding leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan - one of Kurdistan’s two ruling parties. Planning for the post-Talabani era is a big concern. In 2008 Wikileaks revealed a secret cable about Iraq that wrote: “…It remains possible that the party could fracture when [Talabani] passes on.” That could give more power to Kurdistan’s other ruling party - the Kurdistan Democratic Party. But it could also lead to more conflict with Baghdad. The leaked cable says: “A weakened or fractured Patriotic Union of Kurdistan might help the Kurdistan Democratic Party locally in the short term but longer term consequences for the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraq could be destabilizing.”

Leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party are worried about Talabani’s health and his successor. Talabani is believed to have political influence beyond his formal powers. He played a vital role in unity in Iraq and also beyond Iraq’s borders. Talabani is expected to return to Iraq by the end of March. But the post-Talabani era remains a big issue.

Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan says the party is a much-needed force that powerful countries want to deal with. The party has set up committees to mange its relations with Turkey, Iran and Baghdad. That’s a message that the party will survive and that party leaders want to develop the relations that Talabani started with Turkey and Iran.