Kurdish demands on the table for the next government: oil, salaries, and Article 140

Political reactions continue regarding Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to the Kurdistan Region and his meetings with Kurdish leaders in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah. This visit has been described as pivotal in the process of forming the next government, with many emphasizing its importance in solidifying understandings between Baghdad and Erbil.

In this context, Suzan Mansour, a leading figure in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), affirmed that al-Zaidi’s visit represents a “necessary” step to ensure the neutrality of the next government and to strengthen trust among the various political parties.

Mansour told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “Al-Zaidi’s visit to the region sends a reassuring message that the incoming government seeks to maintain impartiality towards all political forces and groups.” She explained that “the issues raised by the region are not new, but rather long-standing demands that require fundamental solutions within the upcoming government program.”

She added that “the most prominent Kurdish demands include securing the salaries of the region’s employees, enacting the oil and gas law, activating Article 140 of the Constitution, and guaranteeing the region’s share of the federal budget.” She pointed out that “raising these issues at this time aims to end the chronic disputes between Baghdad and Erbil and establish common ground for government action.”

For his part, Mahma Khalil, a leader in the Kurdistan Democratic Party, revealed details of the meetings that brought Al-Zaidi together with the region’s leaders, confirming that the party was among the first to support him in the process of forming the next government.
Khalil told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the meetings held by the Prime Minister-designate with both Masoud Barzani and Nechirvan Barzani were fruitful, and during them the party’s support for the next government was confirmed,” explaining that “Barzani laid out three basic pillars for participating in the government, which are: genuine partnership in decision-making, achieving balance within state institutions, and adopting political consensus among all parties.”

Regarding the parliamentary stance, Khalil clarified that “the decision by Democratic Party MPs not to attend parliamentary sessions is a temporary suspension, not a withdrawal or boycott of the political process,” noting that “this measure has been previously taken by other political forces at various stages for different reasons.”
This political activity comes at a time when the Iraqi arena is witnessing intensive efforts to bridge the gaps between political forces, particularly concerning the chronic points of contention between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region, amidst anticipation of the outcome of ongoing understandings regarding the formation of the next government and its political program.

Almaalomah.me