RE: KDP has issued a stern warning to the Iraqi federal government, threatening to take “serious stances”29 May 2025 17:56
https://baghdadtoday.news/275257-.html
barzani threatens secession after payroll suspension
baghdad today - baghdad
in a dangerous political development that may reflect the depth of the crisis between erbil and baghdad, the kurdistan democratic party, led by masoud barzani, announced today, thursday (may 29, 2025), its threat to completely withdraw from the political process in iraq, even threatening the option of secession. this follows the decision of the federal ministry of finance to halt financial allocations to the kurdistan region.
party leader wafaa mohammed karim told baghdad today, "all attempts to contain the crisis with the federal government have failed, given the deliberate disregard for the agreements reached and the continued systematic starvation policy against the people of kurdistan."
he added, "we cannot accept any longer remaining silent about this ongoing injustice," adding, "it is time to withdraw from all aspects of the political process, whether executive or legislative, and to work seriously to reactivate the referendum file, while calling on the international community to support our people's will to free themselves from the reality of oppression and marginalization."
he emphasized that "what is happening today goes beyond political differences to become a treatment that carries within it an unacceptable ****** and sectarian character," noting that "the coming period may witness radical changes in the region's relationship with baghdad if the federal government continues its policy of cutting off livelihoods and stealing people's livelihoods," as he put it.
prior to this, iraqi finance minister taif sami sent an official letter to the kurdistan regional government (krg) on wednesday, informing it of the ministry's inability to continue funding the region, citing kurdistan's "exceeding its allotted share under the federal budget law, which amounts to 12.67%."
this escalation comes amid growing financial and political tensions between the central and regional governments, amid warnings of serious repercussions for the country's stability.
the roots of the financial and political crisis between the federal government in baghdad and the kurdistan regional government (krg) go back many years and relate primarily to the sharing of oil revenues, the general budget, and mutual financial obligations.
in recent years, despite the conclusion of several agreements between the two parties regarding the delivery of kurdish oil to the federal state oil company somo in exchange for the region's share of the federal budget, implementation of these agreements has remained faltering and has often been subject to shifting political calculations.