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At the heart of the summit is the disputed decision by Iraq’s Ministry of Finance to withhold financial entitlements from the Kurdistan Region — a step Kurdish political forces condemn as unconstitutional and politically charged.
Kurdish Political Leaders Unite in Pirmam Amid Baghdad’s Suspension of Regional Funds
In a significant political summit held Saturday in Pirmam, senior Kurdish leaders and representatives from various political factions gathered under the oversight of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) Executive Committee. The meeting was convened in response to the escalating financial crisis triggered by the federal government’s abrupt suspension of salary payments to the Kurdistan Region.
According to Kurdistan24’s Nawras Abdullah, the summit’s primary objective was to evaluate the evolving political situation in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the broader region, especially in light of Baghdad’s recent financial decision.
A central point of discussion was the Iraqi Ministry of Finance’s recent decision to halt the Kurdistan Region’s budget allocations — a measure Kurdish parties describe as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The summit brought together a diverse range of political figures, including:
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Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
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Salar Lala Sarhad, Politburo Member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
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Dr. Majeed Hamadameen, PUK Leadership Council Member
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Mohammed Haji Mahmood, Leader of the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party
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Dana Ahmed Majid, Political Bureau Leader of the Gorran (Change) Movement
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Bekas Qadir, Politburo Member of the Islamic Movement
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Abdullah Warti, Politburo Member of the Islamic Movement
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Bapir Kamala, Secretary of the Toilers Party of Kurdistan
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Mohammed Baziani, Representative of the Islamic Relations Movement
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Abdulqadir Bazargan and Muna Qahwachi, Representatives of the Turkmen Reform Party
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Kawa Mahmood, Secretary of the Communist Party
The emergency gathering was prompted by a recent letter from Iraq’s Ministry of Finance informing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of the suspension of further salary disbursements. The Ministry cited rulings from the Federal Supreme Court and the federal budget law, alleging that the KRG failed to remit 19.2 trillion Iraqi dinars in oil and non-oil revenues — a claim the Kurdish leadership strongly contests.
In response, the KDP’s Politburo issued a firm statement on Thursday, accusing Baghdad of continuing to breach the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional rights. The statement condemned the Finance Ministry’s move as politically charged and in violation of the agreements that formed the current federal government. It emphasized that the livelihoods of public employees are being used as political leverage.
The KDP also announced that the matter would be addressed in a Central Committee meeting scheduled for June 2, 2025. The statement warned that if the Region’s financial entitlements are not disbursed before Eid al-Adha, the party would take a resolute and public stance.
In parallel, Shakhawan Abdullah, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, revealed that Kurdish parliamentary factions had submitted a formal memorandum to the Prime Minister of Iraq. The memorandum decried the current financial treatment of Kurdistan Region employees and warned that such actions are driving many citizens into poverty.
The Pirmam summit underscores a rare moment of political unity across Kurdistan’s diverse parties in the face of mounting financial pressure from Baghdad. Without swift resolution, the impasse threatens to further strain Erbil-Baghdad relations and deepen regional instability.