SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region —The Shiite-led Coordination Framework, Iraq’s ruling political alliance, convened a regular meeting on Monday, attended by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, calling on Parliament to pass the long-stalled Oil and Gas Law — a step it described as “key” to resolving ongoing disputes between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The renewed call comes days after the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, on May 28, decided to withhold salary payments to KRG civil servants — a move that has reignited longstanding tensions over budgetary and constitutional obligations, with both Baghdad and Erbil accusing each other of non-compliance.
The meeting, hosted at the office of political leader Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, also addressed current political and service-related developments, in addition to preparations for Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November, the Coordination Framework said in a statement.
Addressing the broader disputes with the KRG, the Framework emphasized the importance of managing all national issues in line with the constitution and existing laws, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to the rights of all Iraqi citizens and its determination to remove any obstacles hindering governance.
In its statement, the Coordination Framework described the Oil and Gas Law as essential to resolving Baghdad-Erbil tensions, urging the Iraqi Council of Representatives to expedite its passage.
On elections, the Framework reaffirmed its commitment to holding the vote as scheduled and called on the Iraqi public to update their biometric voter cards and participate actively and responsibly. It also warned against the use of political money to manipulate public opinion during the electoral process.