ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has invited all Kurdish political parties that have representatives in the Iraqi parliament to attend a meeting in Erbil on Saturday about financial disputes with the federal government.
“All Kurdistani blocs in Baghdad have been invited to Erbil for talks due to ongoing delays and disputes over federal payments to the Kurdistan Region. Meetings are scheduled throughout the day tomorrow,” Aziz Ahmed, deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, wrote on X.
He added that all Kurdish ministers in the federal government will join the talks as well and finished the post saying “Strong, unified signal.”
The KRG has failed to pay the salaries of its civil servants on-time and in-full for a decade due to a financial crisis that worsened when its oil exports stopped in March 2023 following a court ruling on a dispute between Iraq and Turkey over the Kurdistan Region’s independent oil sales.
Erbil is now dependent on local income sources and its controversial federal budget share.
Baghdad has not yet paid the December salaries of Kurdistan Region’s civil servants and it remains unclear when the payment will be made.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is scheduled to visit Baghdad next week to attend a meeting of the ruling State Administration Coalition and hold discussions with political parties, his spokesperson said on Thursday. Rudaw has learned that he will arrive in the capital on Sunday.
The State Administration Coalition, which regularly convenes to discuss the latest developments in both the country and the region, is made up of political parties that have supported the current Iraqi cabinet, including the ruling political parties of the Kurdistan Region.
“Nechirvan Barzani is set to hold meetings with various political parties,” Dilshad Shahad told Rudaw.
Kurdish parties have about 60 spots in the 329-seat federal legislature. They also hold several key positions such as the presidency, and the ministers of foreign affairs, justice, the environment, and construction and housing.
