Iraqi Kurds, once again, assumed the role of shaping Iraqi politics as main blocs, US-backed Sairoon and Victory alliances vs Iran-backed Fatah and State of Law coalitions, rushed to win over Kurdish support. “It is too early for Kurdish parties to take a final decision on this matter, and both sides will fail to form a government with Kurdish absence,” former Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK member Areez Abdullah told Asharq Al-Awsat. Abdullah spearheads coordination efforts with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the negotiations with Baghdad. He went on explaining that the Iraqi Shiite divide between Sairoon and Fatah has made for a game of political alliances that Kurdish parties will not play a part in. “We wait in anticipation for events to unfold then give our word—given that we rest assured that both teams will not be able to form a government without the Kurds,” said Abdullah. “Kurds will join a party after naturally negotiating demands and rights of the people of Kurdistan,” he added. Iraq has been caught up in a post-elections political flurry as parties race to secure a parliamentary majority. Kurdish parties are an elemental partner in constitutional political processes promoting partnership, harmony and balance on which the modern-day Iraqi federal parliamentary republic was founded, Abdullah added. He stressed that Kurdish forces no longer trust Victory Alliance’s leader and outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi because of inconsistent positions and ongoing spat with Kurdish parties. In that, Abdullah hinted the likelihood of Kurds joining opposition forces. “The Kurdish side cannot be overlooked or excluded from real participation in Iraqi governing,” said Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament senior adviser Majid Saleh. “Former Shiite governments deliberately marginalized the role of Sunni forces in state management. We all saw the bloody and costly violence that flooded Iraq as a consequence,” he added.