Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani remains firmly in office amid stable Kurdistan Democratic Party leadership and active diplomatic engagement with Baghdad. In early May 2026 he met Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi and Coordination Framework leaders to advance cabinet formation, political partnership, and Peshmerga unification, underscoring his central role in federal-Kurdish relations. Recent official statements on regional stability, teacher union milestones, and upcoming visits further signal continuity rather than disruption. Ongoing coalition negotiations between major Kurdish parties have produced no immediate leadership challenges, reinforcing trader consensus that removal is unlikely absent a major internal rift or constitutional shift. Late-breaking developments such as a sudden party realignment or health-related vacancy could still alter the timeline.