Kurdish parties hold emergency meeting in Erbil over salary suspension

Shafaq News/ A broad meeting of Kurdish political parties convened Saturday in Erbil, as tensions escalated over the Iraqi government’s decision to halt May salary payments to Kurdistan Region public employees.

Held at the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) political bureau, the meeting will discuss the financial entitlements and assess the broader state of relations between Erbil and Baghdad, according to Shafaq News correspondent.

The Iraqi government recently suspended salary transfers, citing the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) failure to remit oil and non-oil revenues as required by the Federal Budget Law and a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court.

A KRG delegation is expected to travel to Baghdad on June 1 to resume negotiations with Iraqi officials over the unresolved fiscal arrangements.

Earlier today, a source told Shafaq News that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has agreed to release May salaries as a temporary loan outside the KRG’s regular budget share. The disbursement is anticipated midweek.