Today, Saturday, a PUK delegation led by PUK diplomat Sadi Ahmed Pira met with the newly elected SI chief, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez. Pira congratulated Sanchez on his election as presiding of the Socialist International grouping. The delegation also conveyed PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani's wishes to the SI chief.  

Pira said, "the nomination of Mr. Pedro Sánchez is necessary for the unification of the Social International and the Progressive Alliance and the reunification of all the socialist parties under the umbrella of one public and active organization."

The two sides discussed ways to improve political, economic, and cultural ties between Iraq, Kurdistan, and Spain. 

The new SI chief recalled the late President Jalal Talabani's significant role and efforts in further developing Social International and spoke of president Talabani's charismatic role in bringing the organization together. 

PUK's Sadi Pira asked the SI president to work to reunite the Progressive Alliance and the SI. The Progressive Alliance split from the SI in 2013.  
The PUK also made clear to the Spanish PM that the PUK has always worked to bring different views in Iraq together. 

The 50-year-old Spanish PM takes over from former Greek prime minister George Papandreou as head of the SI, a movement grouping 132 political parties worldwide. The PUK has always been an active member of the organization, with the PUK's former general secretary Jalal Talabani serving as the SI deputy general secretary for over a decade. 

Pedro Sanchez chatting with Sadi Ahmed Pira, PUK top diplomat in Madrid, Spain