Sema
“We have reached the conviction that Baghdad’s current treatment of the Kurdistan Region is oppressive, unjust, and completely unacceptable,” PM Barzani stated in his opening remarks.
In a significant development, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani strongly denounced Baghdad’s current approach toward the Kurdistan Region during an emergency cabinet session held on Saturday in Erbil, describing federal government actions as “oppressive and unjust.”
The extraordinary meeting, which saw the Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and Kurdish parliamentary bloc leaders in attendance, centered on the crucial issues of public sector salaries and the Region’s constitutional financial entitlements from Baghdad.
“We have reached the conviction that Baghdad’s current treatment of the Kurdistan Region is oppressive, unjust, and completely unacceptable,” Prime Minister Barzani stated in his opening remarks, stressing the necessity to readjust Erbil-Baghdad relations within constitutional parameters.
The Prime Minister reiterated that, “We must rectify this relationship (the Erbil-Baghdad relationship); we have a constitution, and we must adhere to this constitution.”
The statement also addressed that “The Federal Court has issued decisions solely in the interest of the federal government and has never issued a decision that serves the interests of the Kurdistan Region’s population.”
The statement highlights ongoing constitutional disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil and the federal government in Baghdad, emphasizing the tensions concerning judicial interpretations and regional autonomy within Iraq’s federal framework.
The reference to the Federal Court’s decisions underlines persistent concerns about equitable constitutional implementation and judicial fairness in matters affecting the Kurdistan Region.
PM Barzani’s criticism extended to Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court, which he accused of systematically favoring federal government interests while ignoring the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional rights.
This extraordinary critique of the judiciary underlines the expanding institutional crisis between Erbil and Baghdad.
The Prime Minister expressed a vision for 2025 centered on lessening public anxiety over financial security, stating, “Our people deserve respect for their struggles and sacrifices, just like all other Iraqi citizens.”
He stressed the Region’s pursuit of administrative and operational equality within Iraq’s federal framework.
The emergency session occurs amid escalating tensions over persistent delays in federal budget transfers, disputed oil export mechanisms, constitutional interpretations affecting Kurdish autonomy, and Federal Court decisions impacting Kurdish rights.
Prime Minister Barzani’s assertion that Baghdad’s current approach “does not reflect proper federal relations” underlines the fundamental disconnect between constitutional guarantees and practical implementation of federal principles in Iraq.
The Prime Minister’s statements reflect mounting Kurdish frustration with Baghdad’s governance approach, underlining the pressing necessity for institutional reform to preserve Iraq’s federal structure and ensure equitable treatment of the Kurdistan Region within the constitutional framework.
This development marks a likely turning point in Erbil-Baghdad relations, as Kurdish leadership indicates a more assertive stance in defending regional rights while maintaining commitment to constitutional solutions.