KDP official claims progress in talks as PUK counters with 38-seat demand

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) remains committed to its alliance with the New Generation Movement (NGM), entering long-stalled government formation talks as a unified 38-seat block, a party leadership council member said Tuesday. The statement came shortly after a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official reaffirmed that the party will only negotiate with the PUK as a standalone entity, while claiming the two sides are inches away from an agreement.