Peregraf
Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Shakhawan Abdullah, has issued a stark call for Kurdish political withdrawal from Baghdad, warning that the ongoing salary crisis has inflicted severe damage on citizens' lives and security in the Kurdistan Region.
In a series of remarks on social media, Abdullah declared: “The best decision, in my opinion, is to withdraw from Baghdad. I wish such a decision had already been made.” He added that he no longer believes in Baghdad’s promises and called for a decisive move, especially in the wake of repeated drone attacks on Kurdistan’s oil infrastructure.
“I have never begged anyone so much in my life,” he said. “I did it for the sake of the salaried workers, although I think this issue cannot be resolved without a decisive decision.”
Public servants in the Kurdistan Region have yet to receive their salaries for May and June, exacerbating public frustration and economic hardship. Abdullah, a senior member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), had earlier on May 29 warned of a potential Kurdish exit from the federal capital. “Whenever a decision is made to boycott or withdraw, I will implement it within an hour,” he said at the time.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also renewed his criticism of Baghdad on Saturday, accusing the federal government of using salaries as a political weapon. Speaking at the inauguration of Erbil’s emergency water project, Barzani said: “Instead of letting us serve the citizens, they punish the citizens and cut their salaries.”
Despite the KRG’s agreement to deliver 230,000 barrels of oil per day and 120 billion dinars in local revenues to Baghdad, Barzani said the federal government had added new conditions that undermine salary transfers. “Terrorists are attacking our oil fields with drones and stopping production—how can this condition be fulfilled?”
Barzani accused Baghdad of unconstitutional behavior, targeting the Region’s achievements and eroding trust. “They want to punish our victories… Where are the voices that once said if salaries went through Baghdad, everything would be fine?”
He reiterated the KRG’s readiness to export all oil through Baghdad—excluding domestic consumption—but warned that Kurdistan would not give up its constitutional rights.
According to KRG figures, Baghdad owes over 9.11 trillion dinars for the current year. The Region says it is entitled to 13.334 trillion dinars but has only received 4.22 trillion so far, leaving hundreds of thousands of public employees unpaid.