
Akam omar mohamad _ activists
Not long ago, Barzani issued a loud threat, declaring, “We will no longer accept this manner of salary payments.” In response, however, Iraq’s Minister of Finance completely blocked the region’s salaries and stated unequivocally: “Your salary balance has been exhausted due to your own internal deductions.”
This is not political governance — it more closely resembles a form of theatrical performance, often bordering on tragicomedy. Beneath the surface lies a national disaster and the ongoing misfortune of a nation pushed to the margins of history.
A politician who makes dangerous threats only to quickly pivot toward compromise is not a guardian of the public good, but rather a broker of national dignity and integrity.
The one who loudly declares red lines and then erases them with his own hand is not a principled actor but merely a tool serving those with whom he negotiates — not against them, nor as their equal.
A politician who knows nothing beyond threats on one side and compromises on the other cannot be presented as a vanguard or noble example of resistance and self-respect.
Those who chant “We will no longer accept this!” are often the first to accept and back down the moment there’s a share of power or resources on the table.
Before elections, they cry “resistance!” yet after elections, they are the first to compete over Baghdad’s spoils on behalf of their party.
This is not politics — this is a humiliating doctrine: publicly reject everything before the cameras and microphones, while privately accepting all terms behind closed doors.
It is not governance — it is political commerce!
In short: the louder the slogan “We will no longer accept this!” is repeated, the more prepared they are to sell off the very cause they claimed to defend, often for less and less.
Meanwhile:
- The Prime Minister who suspended salaries continues to receive implicit support from Kurdistan Region officials.
- At the same time, Kurdish representatives remain embedded within the Baghdad administration, most of whom are from the ruling party: Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Reconstruction — all hold top positions.
- Baghdad’s federal authorities consistently respond to political stances from the Kurdistan Region by targeting public funds and employee salaries.
Why doesn’t Baghdad act against the smuggling of oil by officials?
Why doesn’t it confront the economic interests of the elite?
Why does its gaze fall solely on the salaries of civil servants?
What happened to those who once staged performative displays in support of public servants?
Let’s be honest: many of them are also political merchants and part of a national mafia, no different from our own corrupt elites.
Who suffers in this power struggle and political deadlock, if not the civil servants?
We all know the decision by Taif Sami and the Baghdad authorities was not a technical response but a political reaction to Barzani’s threats and Masrour Barzani’s alignment with the American bloc.
Thus, this decision to suspend salaries is inherently political — using public pay as a pawn in broader disputes. When you cannot separate civil service pay from partisan infighting, it becomes clear that salary cuts are not a technical necessity, but a political weapon.
So the question stands:
If you’re not willing to stop your threats and political games, how can you claim you’re being treated unfairly?