The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the junior partner in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), is facing intense scrutiny and backlash after a dramatic reversal on its stance regarding salary domiciliation—an issue that has been a major point of contention in Kurdish politics. The sudden shift by PUK leaders, Bafel and Qubad Talabani, has not only sparked public outrage but has also exposed deep contradictions within the party’s messaging.

Bafel Talabani’s Sudden Reversal

Speaking today, Bafel Talabani signaled a stark departure from his previously firm opposition to the MyAccount system for KRG public sector salary domiciliation. He not only endorsed the system, which he had previously dismissed as a project benefiting only Masrour Barzani, but also revealed that the PUK had proposed a large-scale media campaign to promote awareness of its benefits.

This reversal is particularly striking given that Bafel had explicitly opposed MyAccount up until very recently, despite no changes to the system or its operational framework. His sudden shift comes at a time when salary domiciliation has reportedly been one of the key sticking points in the ongoing KDP-PUK negotiations over the formation of the next KRG cabinet.

More broadly, his remarks in Baghdad signaled an effort to mend ties with the KDP, acknowledging that while differences remain, there is now a degree of rapprochement between the two sides. Notably, he referred to Masrour Barzani as “His Excellency”—a subtle yet significant shift in rhetoric, especially considering that during the election campaign, he had aggressively stated that Masrour would not even secure a ministry director position without the PUK’s approval.

Qubad Talabani’s Angry Reaction and Media Scrutiny

On the same day that Bafel reversed course, his brother Qubad Talabani made headlines for his angry response to journalists questioning him about salary payments and domiciliation methods. He accused the media of misleading the public and “corrupting” people’s minds on the issue—further reinforcing the perception that the PUK has abandoned its previous stance.

Opposition media quickly seized on the contradiction, circulating a side-by-side video of Qubad. One clip shows his frustrated remarks today, while another, recorded just a few months ago, captures him emphatically reaffirming the PUK’s campaign promise to demand salary domiciliation through Iraq’s Tawtin system rather than the KRG’s MyAccount.

The unambiguous nature of this prior stance makes the PUK’s U-turn particularly difficult to defend. Unlike other political maneuvering, this was not a vague or loosely interpreted position—it was an explicit election promise. The party’s inability to reconcile this sudden shift with their past commitments has left them open to significant public criticism.

Citing Foreign Diplomats While Ignoring Public Concerns

Beyond the policy reversal, Qubad Talabani’s dismissive tone toward the salary issue has further fueled public anger. Salary domiciliation is arguably the most pressing concern for a significant portion of society, particularly in Sulaimani, where frustration over public sector salaries has been especially pronounced. By downplaying the debate and blaming the media, Qubad displayed not only a disregard for his own campaign promises but also a failure to engage with an issue deeply affecting his electorate.

More notably, he attempted to justify his stance by citing recent meetings with three foreign ambassadors—presumably from the U.S., UK, and France to Iraq—claiming they were “baffled by the people’s obsession” with the salary domiciliation debate, allegedly asking, “Is this really something your people are so obsessed with?”

In essence, his argument relies on the opinions of foreign diplomats, assuming he is accurately representing their views, while dismissing the grievances of his own people. This reflects a wider, entrenched pattern in local political culture—where the opinions of foreign officials are often inflated, while domestic concerns are sidelined.

Why This Issue is a Political Flashpoint

To understand the political ramifications of this U-turn, it is crucial to recognize why salary domiciliation is such a sensitive topic. While over 20% of the population directly depends on government salaries, the broader impact extends much further—many households rely on these incomes to support entire families, meaning the issue affects well over half of society.

For over a decade, salary delays, payment cuts, and financial instability have eroded public trust in the government’s ability to handle public sector wages. Given this fragile context, the method of salary domiciliation has become a deeply political issue, symbolizing a broader struggle over financial control and governance within the KRG.

By not only breaking a clear campaign promise but also belittling the public’s concerns, the Talabani brothers have orchestrated one of the most blatant political U-turns by any Kurdish leader in recent memory. With opposition media amplifying the contradictions in their statements and frustration mounting among voters, the PUK leadership now faces serious political repercussions—both in its negotiations with the KDP and in the court of public opinion.

The question now is whether the PUK will attempt to justify this shift further or if they will face a sustained backlash from their own supporters, particularly in Sulaimani, where expectations for accountability remain high.