KRG formation: KDP, PUK to resume talks next week
Shafaq News/ The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) will resume discussions on forming the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) next week, PUK spokesman Saadi Ahmed Pira revealed on Thursday.
In a press statement, Pira affirmed that previous meetings between the two parties led to an agreement on the Kurdistan Region's governance strategy, expecting both sides to reach an understanding on the final details of the KRG formation in upcoming meetings.
"The new government must be formed as soon as possible.'
Since the October 2024 parliamentary elections, Kurdish political blocs have failed to finalize a government.
KDP political bureau member Pishtwan Sadiq said on Sunday that a "good" political agreement had been reached with the PUK and other parties, expressing hope for the "positive" formation of the new government.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraq Business
2 hours ago
- Iraq Business
Baghdad and Erbil Exchange Sharp Words over Oil Revenue Dispute
By John Lee. Iraq's federal Ministry of Oil and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have issued competing statements over the longstanding dispute regarding oil production and revenue sharing, highlighting the continued impasse that has cost the country billions of dollars in lost exports. Federal Government Position The federal Ministry of Oil in Baghdad has demanded that the Kurdistan Regional Government comply with the constitution, federal court decisions, and budget laws requiring the handover of oil produced in Kurdish territory to federal authorities for export. The ministry stated that despite sending official correspondence and delegations to the KRG, these efforts have proved fruitless. According to the federal ministry, the KRG's continued non-compliance is causing significant financial losses to Iraq through two mechanisms: firstly, by preventing the federal government from receiving and exporting Kurdish oil, and secondly, by forcing the ministry to reduce production from other Iraqi fields to comply with Iraq's OPEC quota, which includes Kurdish production regardless of compliance issues. The ministry also accused the KRG of continuing to smuggle oil outside Iraq and warned it would pursue all legal measures whilst holding the regional government fully responsible for such activities. Kurdish Regional Government Response The KRG's Ministry of Natural Resources issued a detailed rebuttal, characterising the federal statement as "political" and divorced from objective facts. The regional government accused Baghdad of violating the constitution and blocking the passage of a federal oil and gas law for years, instead relying on what it termed outdated centralised legislation from 1976 that contradicts federal principles. The KRG defended its constitutional right to manage its natural resources, stating that international oil companies would not have invested billions of dollars without proper legal foundations. The regional government claimed it had fulfilled all commitments regarding export resumption, including agreeing to sell oil through the federal marketing company SOMO and deposit revenues in the state treasury. Regarding smuggling allegations, the KRG accused federal authorities of engaging in widespread corruption and oil smuggling in southern Iraq, citing local and international reports. Financial Impact and Technical Details The dispute has resulted in the suspension of Kurdish oil exports since 25 March 2023, following legal action by Iraq's federal oil ministry against Turkey's energy ministry. The KRG stated this stoppage has cost the federal government, the region, and oil companies more than 25 billion dollars. The regional government reported delivering over 11.8 million barrels of oil to federal refineries over five months without receiving any payment, leading to production companies' reluctance to continue deliveries. The KRG also noted that budget law provisions setting production costs at six dollars per barrel have discouraged most companies from maintaining production levels. Ongoing Negotiations Both sides referenced attempts to resolve the dispute through joint committees and negotiations. The KRG emphasised its flexibility and readiness to cooperate, whilst the federal ministry maintained that previous discussions had been unsuccessful. A joint committee was established to draft federal oil and gas legislation, though the KRG accused federal authorities of delays in pursuing this critical file. The dispute continues to highlight fundamental disagreements over the interpretation of Iraq's federal constitution and the respective roles of Baghdad and Erbil in managing the country's oil resources. Click here to read the original statement from the Federal Ministry of Oil [Arabic] Click here to read the original statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government [Arabic] (Sources: Federal Ministry of Oil; Kurdistan Regional Government)
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan salary impasse casts shadow over Eid
Shafaq News/ Public employees across the Kurdistan Region marked the first day of Eid al-Adha without receiving their salaries, as the long-running payroll crisis continues with no resolution in sight. Despite political messaging issued for the holiday, the federal government has not taken any concrete measures to address the salary dispute or provide alternative mechanisms to ensure regular payments. The Kurdish Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Pshtewan Sadiq expressed concern to Shafaq News over the federal government's decision to withhold salaries during a major religious occasion, adding, 'This decision is unconstitutional and unlawful. I do not believe any government in the world would do such a thing on a holiday.' Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Leader Masoud Barzani condemned the salary cutoff, linking the move to 'past atrocities committed against the Kurdish people.' 'The will of the Kurdish people is stronger than any injustice or attempt to erase them,' he said. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani also voiced these concerns, affirming that the Kurdish leadership will intensify efforts to remove all obstacles 'and pursue every path toward resolving this major crisis.' The salary crisis in the Kurdistan Region began in June 2014, when payments became irregular and subject to significant deductions. The situation has continued despite the appreciation of the dinar against the US dollar and persistently high market prices, compounding the financial burden on public servants.
Shafaq News
12 hours ago
- Shafaq News
KRG: Erbil engaging Baghdad and world powers to resolve salary crisis
Shafaq News/ The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is making serious efforts at both the domestic and international levels to address the public sector salary crisis, Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs Pshtiwan Sadiq said on Friday. Speaking to reporters following Eid al-Adha prayers in Erbil, Sadiq voiced deep concern over the Iraqi government's decision to halt salary payments during the holiday. 'No government should deny its citizens their wages, especially during a sacred occasion,' he noted. Sadiq emphasized that the KRG has met all its obligations under Iraq's constitution and relevant legal frameworks, adding, 'The government is working actively, both in Baghdad and with international actors, to resolve this issue.' The remarks come amid heightened tensions following the Iraqi Ministry of Finance's decision to freeze May 2025 salary disbursements to the Region. Baghdad accuses the KRG of failing to transfer oil and non-oil revenues as mandated by the Federal Budget Law and a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court. Erbil has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, calling the move 'unconstitutional, unlawful, and a form of collective punishment' that targets ordinary citizens. In response, representatives of civil society organizations in the Kurdish capital submitted a letter to the United Nations on Thursday, appealing for international intervention to help lift what they described as a financial siege. Also on Thursday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed the KRG's commitment to defending the rights of the Kurdish people through all legal and constitutional avenues.
