PM Barzani: KRG salaries must be resolved ‘as soon as possible’

ERBIL — Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday said efforts are underway to resolve the delayed salary payments for public employees in the region “as soon as possible,” confirming that a KRG delegation is currently in Baghdad to negotiate with the federal government.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party — where he also serves as deputy leader — Barzani characterized the standoff as a political dispute rather than a technical one.

“Unfortunately, the Kurdistan Region is being treated unfairly, discriminatorily, and unconstitutionally by Baghdad,” he said. “Iraq is a federal country. The Kurdistan Region has a constitutional status and its powers and rights must be respected. The Kurdistan Region will never give up any of its constitutional rights.”

He also said the region “will always be a factor of stability and peace in the area and will never pose a threat or danger to any party.”

As of July 7, employees of the Kurdistan Regional Government had not received their May salaries amid a prolonged dispute with Baghdad. The conflict intensified in May when the federal Finance Ministry suspended transfers, alleging that the KRG had exceeded its 2025 budget allocation by more than 19 trillion dinars and failed to submit verifiable data on oil and non-oil revenues. The KRG has denied the allegations, asserting that it has fulfilled all its constitutional obligations.

Earlier this month, KRG urged the federal government in Baghdad to end its withholding of public employee salaries, citing progress in recent negotiations and reiterating that it has fulfilled all obligations under existing agreements.