Kurdish Policy Analysis

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj / Kurdish Policy Analysis Masoud Pezeshkian called a 10-day delay in university salary payments "unacceptable," prompting many Kurdish social media users to contrast the response with years of delayed public-sector salaries in the Kurdistan Region. Iran's president condemned a 10-day salary delay for university faculty, sparking comparisons with years of delayed and reduced public-sector salaries in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Pezeshkian Calls Salary Delay "Unacceptable" Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered government officials to resolve a delay in salary payments to faculty members at the University of Tehran after learning that professors had gone ten days without receiving their wages. Calling the situation "unacceptable," the president instructed relevant authorities to address the issue immediately, emphasizing that university staff should not face prolonged delays in receiving their salaries. Although t...

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Kurdish Policy Analysis After nearly two years of boycott, the Kurdistan Democratic Party's return could reshape Kurdish politics, ethnic power-sharing, and the future governance of Kirkuk. The KDP has ended its two-year boycott of Kirkuk's Provincial Council, a move that could reshape power-sharing and political stability. The Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) decision to end its nearly two-year boycott of the Kirkuk Provincial Council marks one of the most important political developments in the disputed province since the formation of its local government in 2024. While the announcement appears procedural on the surface, it signals a broader recalibration of Kurdish politics and could open the door to greater political stability in one of Iraq's most contested cities. Since the provincial elections, Kirkuk has remained at the centre of Iraq's ethnic and political competition. The KDP rejected the inaugural council session held in Baghd...

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Kurdish Policy Analysis As public trust in traditional parties declines, Kurdistan faces a more dangerous challenge: the rise of personal rule over institutional politics Kurdistan's greatest political challenge may not be party politics itself, but the weakening of party institutions and the growing dominance of individual leaders. Is Kurdistan witnessing the decline of political parties? Across the Kurdistan Region, criticism of political parties has become increasingly common. Many citizens blame parties for political paralysis, economic difficulties, governance challenges, and institutional stagnation. Calls for reducing the influence of political parties—or even eliminating them altogether—have become more frequent in public debate. However, this criticism raises an important question: Is the problem the existence of political parties, or the way political parties have evolved? The answer may determine the future of democracy in the Kurdistan Regi...

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Kurdish Policy Analysis Why allegations of corruption involving senior officials continue to fuel public demands for transparency, judicial independence, and institutional reform. The debate surrounding Adnan Al-Jumaili has once again highlighted one of Iraq's most persistent governance challenges: public confidence in accountability and anti-corruption institutions. Whether involving ministers, members of parliament, or senior officials, allegations of financial misconduct often generate widespread public attention. However, the central question is not merely whether accusations are made, but whether independent investigations, transparent judicial proceedings, and credible evidence are presented. In Iraq, corruption has long ranked among citizens' primary concerns. Billions of dollars have reportedly been lost over decades through weak oversight, procurement irregularities, patronage networks, and administrative inefficiencies. Public frustration has...

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Kurdish Policy Analysis A week-long fuel crisis has exposed deeper structural problems in the Kurdistan Region's energy market, raising questions about state authority, fuel supply chains, and the limits of government intervention. Fuel stations across the Kurdistan Region rejected government-imposed gasoline prices, triggering shortages and exposing deeper challenges in the region's fuel market. The Kurdistan Region is facing one of its most significant fuel market disruptions in recent years after most gasoline stations reportedly refused to comply with government-imposed price controls, leading to widespread closures and rapidly rising fuel prices. Regular gasoline prices have reportedly climbed toward 1,500 Iraqi dinars per litre , while premium grades have reached approximately 2,000 dinars per litre , placing additional financial pressure on households and businesses already coping with broader economic challenges. The crisis escalated after ...