PUK expected to name deputy PM

[k98nights]

28/01/2012 12:03

ERBIL, Jan. 28 (AKnews) - Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani is waiting on coalition partners the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to name their Deputy Prime Minister so he can name his nephew Nechirvan Barzani Prime Minister.

Speaking to AKnews, Fuad Hussein head of Barzani's office said that after the Kurdistan Democratic Party nominated Nechirvan Barzani for the PM post, KDP is now waiting for the PUK Deputy PM so Nechirvan Barzani can form the new cabinet.

Azad Jundiyani, PUK politburo spokesman, said their candidate will be elected after Jalal Talabani, PUK general secretary and President of Iraq, returns home from Germany where he is receiving unspecified medical treatment.

Under a strategic deal between PUK and KDP, led by Massoud Barzani, the KDP and PUK share power. Under this deal PUK deputy general secretary Barham Saleh, who has been in power for the last two years, will vacate the Prime Minister's office for Nechirvan Barzani, himself a former Kurdish premier.

By Rebin Hassan

LH/JS/AKnews

http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/286748/