Peregraf

Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), delivered a forceful and defiant speech on Saturday marking the 50th anniversary of the party’s founding. Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Sulaymaniyah, Talabani addressed a range of political issues, focusing heavily on the Kurdistan Region’s ongoing dispute with Baghdad over public sector salaries.

“Today I spoke to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani about the salary issue,” Talabani said. “His words were promising, and I believe this matter will be resolved.” He urged the federal government in Baghdad to prioritize the voice of the people over what he described as “the ignorance of a few satisfied and ignorant people.”

In a veiled criticism of rival Kurdish leaders, Talabani declared, “It is never right for someone to threaten Baghdad and then fail to follow through. The PUK doesn’t play such games.”

Talabani used the occasion to reassert the role of the PUK as a key force in Kurdistan and beyond. “There is no party that has the capacity to think like the PUK. We said we would adjust the balance of power—and we have done what we said.”

He continued:

• “The PUK will never compromise.”

• “We are part of the global wave of change—countries are asking about the PUK.”

• “It is the PUK that corrects the mistakes of others.”

The speech comes amid growing tension between political parties in the Kurdistan Region and as Baghdad and Erbil struggle to finalize a sustainable budget and salary agreement.

Talabani’s remarks signal a more assertive tone from the PUK as it marks half a century since its founding by Jalal Talabani in 1975.

KRG Salary Crisis

On May 28, the Ministry of Finance claimed that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had exceeded its 12.67% share of the federal budget and must now fully adopt the federal “Tawtin” electronic salary system to receive further transfers. Kurdish officials, however, view the requirement as an attempt to impose political control under the guise of financial regulation.

The suspension has left nearly 1.2 million Kurdish civil servants without their May salaries, fueling public outrage across the region. The KDP has signaled that if payments are not resumed before Eid al-Adha, the party may take significant political steps in response.

“We are being punished economically for political reasons. This is unacceptable,” the party said in a separate statement.

In a rare show of unity, 43 political parties in the Kurdistan Region—excluding a few key opposition groups—gathered in Pirmam on May 31 for an emergency summit convened by the KDP. In a joint statement, they condemned the federal government’s move as unconstitutional and politically motivated.

“This decision is a clear violation of the Constitution, Federal Court rulings, and existing agreements,” the statement read. “Withholding salaries is an act of political pressure against the Kurdish people and a threat to the region’s stability.”

The salary crisis comes amid heightened tensions between Erbil and Baghdad, especially after the KRG signed multibillion-dollar oil contracts with American firms. These agreements have drawn sharp criticism from powerful Shiite factions in Baghdad, with militia leader Qais al-Khazali accusing the KRG of harboring separatist ambitions and engaging in illegal oil exports.

Adding further pressure, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament and senior KDP member Shakhawan Abdullah hinted at a possible Kurdish withdrawal from federal political institutions. “If the decision is made, I will execute it within an hour,” he said.

However, not all political forces in Kurdistan are backing the ruling parties’ approach. Opposition groups warned against bypassing the Kurdistan Parliament and stressed the importance of institutional channels to resolve the dispute. “Parliament remains the only legitimate venue for resolving disputes,” their statement read.

As the Eid holiday nears, fears are growing that the crisis could cause long-term economic harm and deepen political rifts, testing the strength and future of Iraq’s federal system.