PUK Official: All Positions Held by PUK in Baghdad are Aimed at Serving the People

Bestun Fayaq's Media

Bestun Fayaq, Advisor to the PUK President.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has dedicated its political representation in Baghdad to serving the people of the Kurdistan Region, with senior a party official stressing the urgency of resolving the ongoing salary crisis through dialogue rather than political confrontation.

Bestun Fayaq, Advisor to the PUK President, addressed a press conference at the mausoleum of President Mam Jalal in Dabashan, Sulaymaniyah, during a visit marking the anniversary of the PUK’s founding.

“All positions held by the PUK in Baghdad are aimed at serving the people of the Kurdistan Region,” Fayaq stated. “We firmly reject any attempts to punish the people or delay public sector salaries.”

Fayaq emphasised that while the Kurdistan parties within the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have various options in dealing with Baghdad, dialogue remains the most effective approach. 

“Both sides have been negligent in this regard. They must ensure that the salaries and livelihoods of Kurdistan’s citizens are not entangled in political disputes,” he added.

He further affirmed that the PUK has intensified its efforts in Baghdad to reach a resolution on the salary issue.

The controversy escalated after the Iraqi Minister of Finance, in a letter dated 29 May 2025, announced that the federal government would no longer allocate public salaries to the Kurdistan Region, citing the full disbursement of its share of the federal budget for the years 2023 to 2025. The decision has drawn criticism from numerous Kurdish parties, who labelled it unconstitutional.

On Saturday, 31 May 2025, several Kurdish political parties held an emergency meeting to issue a unified statement condemning the move as politically motivated and a direct threat to the wellbeing of the Kurdistan Region’s population.

“The federal authorities are constitutionally bound to honour their financial obligations to the people of the Kurdistan Region,” the statement read. “Weaponising economic policy to exert political pressure is unacceptable and undermines regional stability.”

Dr. Majid Mohammed Amin, a member of the PUK Leadership Council who participated in the high-level meeting held in Pirmam, spoke to the press following the discussions. He revealed that withdrawal from Baghdad had been considered but ultimately dismissed.

“Withdrawal is not the answer. The solution lies in Baghdad. At this point, negotiations remain our only effective instrument,” he stated.



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