PM Barzani Says Baghdad Delegation Ready for 'Real Talks' Amid Kurdistan Salary Crisis

Peregraf

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced that Iraqi federal officials are preparing to send a delegation to Erbil soon for what he described as "real talks" aimed at resolving the worsening salary crisis that has left tens of thousands of public employees unpaid.

Speaking at a press conference following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Barzani expressed gratitude to the people of the Kurdistan Region for their patience and resilience, as June draws to a close without salaries being paid for May.

"We cannot provide salaries alone due to the immense pressure on the Kurdistan Region," Barzani said. "If our domestic revenues were sufficient, we would not have waited for Baghdad."

Barzani emphasized the need to reach an agreement with Baghdad, while reaffirming his government’s commitment to minimizing the impact on the public. "If we cannot reach an agreement, we will not allow people’s lives to be further disrupted — instead, we will reduce expenditures," he said. "If we are unable to pay full salaries on time and in full, we will distribute what we can based on our current financial capacity."

The crisis began in late May, when the Iraqi Federal Ministry of Finance suspended the KRG’s 12.67% share of the federal budget. Baghdad has accused the KRG of exhausting its annual allocation and failing to remit agreed-upon oil and non-oil revenues—charges the KRG has rejected as politically motivated.

Earlier this month, KRG Minister Sheikh Janab said the region "will not surrender," stating that the government could continue to operate using internal income, oil revenues, and more efficient financial management.

Adding to the tension is a legal case filed by public sector employees at the Federal Supreme Court, demanding a ruling to compel Baghdad to resume payments. On June 18, Barzani confirmed that his government had submitted a formal letter to the court, stating: "We await a ruling in favor of the Kurdish people."

However, the case now faces delays after the Federal Supreme Court was thrown into disarray—its president and several members recently submitted retirement requests, effectively dissolving the court and postponing any legal resolution.

As public frustration continues to mount, the outcome of upcoming meetings between Erbil and Baghdad is seen as a crucial test for the Barzani government’s ability to secure a sustainable solution and restore public trust.