'This Must Not Go Unchallenged,' Zebari Condemns Federal Salary Cut as Political Attack
KDP’s Hoshyar Zebari accused PM al-Sudani and the Coordination Framework of exploiting Kurdistan’s salary crisis for political gain. Amid rising tensions, the KDP warns of firm action if salaries aren’t paid before Eid, calling Baghdad’s move unconstitutional.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Member of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Hoshyar Zebari has criticized Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the Coordination Framework alliance, accusing them of exacerbating the Kurdistan Region’s ongoing salary crisis for political gain.
In a post on the platform X, Zebari questioned the motives behind Baghdad’s actions, stating, “What is the interest of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the Coordination Framework in deliberately creating a salary crisis for Kurdistan Region employees at this critical time?”
He added, “This comes as the country approaches elections. There may be technical pretexts, but the decision of the federal Ministry of Finance is clearly political, part of a systematic campaign targeting a constitutionally recognized region, which must not go unchallenged.”
ما هي مصلحة السيد السوداني و مصلحة الاطار التنسيقي الحاكم في تفجير أزمة تمويل رواتب موظفي الأقليم في هذا الوقت بالذات؟ و البلد مقبل على انتخابات وطنية؟ ربما هناك مسائل فنية ولكن القرار من وزارة الماليه هو قرار سياسي و مبرمج ضد الأقليم الدستوري بإمتياز، و ستكون له عواقب بلا شك.
— Hoshyar Zebari (@HoshyarZebari) May 31, 2025
Zebari’s statement followed a significant political meeting held on Saturday in Pirmam under the supervision of the KDP’s Executive Committee. Senior representatives from various Kurdish political parties gathered to discuss the worsening financial and political situation between Erbil and Baghdad, as well as broader developments in Iraq and the region.
The meeting condemned the Iraqi Ministry of Finance’s recent move to withhold the Kurdistan Region’s financial entitlements, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated.
Earlier, Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami had informed the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in an official letter that Baghdad could no longer continue salary transfers, citing the depletion of the KRG’s share of the federal budget. Sami justified the move by claiming that “19.2 trillion dinars of oil and non-oil revenues had not been delivered” to Baghdad as mandated.
In response, on Thursday, the KDP’s Politburo issued a strongly worded statement warning that “the federal government is continuing to violate the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region,” calling the ministry’s letter a politically driven document “in defiance of both the constitution and the foundational agreements upon which this government was formed.”
The Politburo further emphasized that the issue will be formally discussed at the upcoming meeting of the KDP’s Central Committee on June 2. It warned that unless the rightful financial dues of the Kurdistan Region’s civil servants are transferred before Eid al-Adha, the party would adopt a “serious and firm position.”
On the same day, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Shakhawan Abdullah, stated that following extensive dialogue, Kurdish parliamentary blocs submitted a formal memorandum to Prime Minister al-Sudani, urging immediate action to resolve the salary dispute.
“This continued obstruction is impacting civil servants and pushing families into poverty,” he said, warning that the situation could no longer be ignored.
