Iraq president sues PM over unpaid Kurdistan salaries
Iraq's president has sued Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani over unpaid salaries for civil servants in the autonomous region of Kurdistan, bringing
Iraqâs president has sued Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani over unpaid salaries for civil servants in the autonomous region of Kurdistan, bringing into focus a rift in the countryâs leadership.
President Abdul Latif Rashid, a Kurd, filed the lawsuit against Sudani and Finance Minister Taif Sami last month, but his adviser, Hawri Tawfiq, only announced it on Sunday.
The case, submitted to Iraqâs top court, seeks an order to ensure salaries are paid âwithout interruptionâ despite ongoing financial disputes between Baghdad and Arbil, the regional capital.
Iraqâs public sector is wracked with inefficiency and corruption, and analysts say Sudani and Rashid had long had disagreements.
While public sector workers received their January salaries, they are still waiting for their December pay.
Tawfiq said the lawsuit was only disclosed now due to protests over missed payments in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistanâs second-largest city and the presidentâs hometown.
Kurdistan regional president Nechirvan Barzani recently thanked Sudani for his cooperation on financial issues, including salaries.
On Sunday, hundreds of people from Sulaimaniyah attempted to protest in Arbil, but police used tear gas to disperse them, local media reported.
Others have staged a sit-in for two weeks in Sulaimaniyah, with 13 teachers resorting to a hunger strike.
Last year, Iraqâs top court ordered the federal government to cover the public sector salaries in Kurdistan instead of going through the regional administration -â a demand employees in Sulaimaniyah have long called for.
But officials say payments have been erratic due to technical issues.
Political scientist Ihssan al-Shemmari said the lawsuit underscores deepening tensions between Rashid and Sudani.
âWe are facing a significant division within the executive authority, and it is now happening openly,â said Shemmari.
In January, Sudani ordered a probe into Rashidâs sonâs company, IQ Internet Services.
MP Hanan al-Fatlawi addressed Rashid on X, saying: âThe fines on your sonâs company IQ⌠are enough to pay the salariesâ in Kurdistan.
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