Baghdad’s Salary Freeze a ‘Political, Programmed’ Attack on Kurdistan, Says Senior KDP Official

Peregraf

Senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official Hoshyar Zebari has strongly criticized the Iraqi Ministry of Finance’s decision to halt salary payments to the Kurdistan Region, calling it a “political and programmed” move that will have serious repercussions.

Zebari made the remarks on Saturday via social media, warning that the federal government’s move—coming just weeks ahead of national elections—is not only unconstitutional but also deliberately aimed at creating instability in the Kurdistan Region.

“What is Mr. Al-Sudani’s and the ruling Coordination Framework's interest in exacerbating the crisis over regional salaries at this time?” Zebari asked. “There may be technical issues, but the Ministry of Finance’s decision is political and premeditated against the constitutional region par excellence, and it will undoubtedly have repercussions.”

On May 28, the Ministry of Finance claimed that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had exceeded its 12.67% share of the federal budget and must now fully adopt the federal “Tawtin” electronic salary system to receive further transfers. Kurdish officials, however, view the requirement as an attempt to impose political control under the guise of financial regulation.

The suspension has left nearly 1.2 million Kurdish civil servants without their May salaries, fueling public outrage across the region. The KDP has signaled that if payments are not resumed before Eid al-Adha, the party may take significant political steps in response.

“We are being punished economically for political reasons. This is unacceptable,” the party said in a separate statement.

In a rare show of unity, 43 political parties in the Kurdistan Region—excluding a few key opposition groups—gathered in Pirmam on May 31 for an emergency summit convened by the KDP. In a joint statement, they condemned the federal government’s move as unconstitutional and politically motivated.

“This decision is a clear violation of the Constitution, Federal Court rulings, and existing agreements,” the statement read. “Withholding salaries is an act of political pressure against the Kurdish people and a threat to the region’s stability.”

The salary crisis comes amid heightened tensions between Erbil and Baghdad, especially after the KRG signed multibillion-dollar oil contracts with American firms. These agreements have drawn sharp criticism from powerful Shiite factions in Baghdad, with militia leader Qais al-Khazali accusing the KRG of harboring separatist ambitions and engaging in illegal oil exports.

Adding further pressure, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament and senior KDP member Shakhawan Abdullah hinted at a possible Kurdish withdrawal from federal political institutions. “If the decision is made, I will execute it within an hour,” he said.

However, not all political forces in Kurdistan are backing the ruling parties’ approach. Opposition groups warned against bypassing the Kurdistan Parliament and stressed the importance of institutional channels to resolve the dispute. “Parliament remains the only legitimate venue for resolving disputes,” their statement read.

As the Eid holiday nears, fears are growing that the crisis could cause long-term economic harm and deepen political rifts, testing the strength and future of Iraq’s federal system.