Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies held a special panel discussion today, Monday, May 11, 2026, on the Kurdish issue within the agenda of Iraq’s new government cabinet. The event brought together several members of the Iraqi Parliament, university professors, writers, and journalists, who shared their views on this important issue.
The panel was held under the title: “The Kurds and the Kurdistan Region in Iraq’s New Government Program.” The speakers included Hawre Tofiq, an expert and observer of Iraqi affairs; Dr. Mohammed Shakir, former member of the Iraqi Parliament; and Fuad Ahmed, head of the Parliamentary Research Center in the Kurdistan Parliament.
During the panel, participants pointed out that the government program contains two major issues. The first is the absence of any reference to the constitutional rights of the Kurdish people, while the second concerns the broader vision reflected in the program regarding Iraq’s future. They also stressed that Article 140 was completely ignored and not mentioned in any form within the program.
The participants further noted that Iraq’s new government program was drafted in a way that heavily emphasizes economic dimensions, while granting most of the powers of the Council of Ministers particularly in sensitive and critical matters to the Prime Minister himself.
In addition to former and current parliamentarians, several heads of Iraqi parliamentary blocs attended the panel and presented their perspectives regarding Kurdish rights within the agenda of the new cabinet. They emphasized the need for the Kurdish side to prepare itself for various possible scenarios in the future.
At the conclusion of the panel, participants stressed that the Kurds should adopt a unified voice and stance in the coming phase and prepare themselves for political changes and different possible scenarios, especially concerning constitutional rights and nationally significant laws.See less