Barzani visited Baghdad two weeks ago, his first visit to the Iraqi capital after the independence referendum of the region on September 25, 2017.

Currently doing a PhD in Human Resource Management and interested in politics, media, and development, Muhammad Al-Waeli stated in the interview that Barzani is trying to open a new page in order to boost bilateral ties between Baghdad and Erbil and also ensure party achievements in the new Iraqi government.

What follows is his full answers to Kurdpress questions;

Why Barzani went Baghdad after the establishment of the new government of Iraq?

Well, there are several specific reasons why Mr. Barzani visited Baghdad. Barzani decided to open a new page in Baghdad. He wants things to return as they were in the past. He had underestimated Baghdad’s leverage when deciding to go through with the referendum, but soon realized that it was stronger than he thought.

Therefore, analysts agreed that the return to 17% of the Budget was certainly on the table. So was getting the Ministry of Justice for KDP, and more importantly the return of the Peshmerga to Kirkuk. He saw sign that at least some of these demands are actually feasible. Many agree upon that the new prime minister is in a weakened position. Barzani offers support in return of going back to the old days. Furthermore, he saw encouraging signs. The oil export from Kirkuk has resumed, the custom checkpoints that the previous government had established in order to compensate for the loss of taxes given that the northern borders are under the control of the Kurds and Baghdad doesn’t receive any of their income, are also to be abolished.

What does he want from Baghdad, while he attempted secession from Iraq last year?

The referendum was a huge political and economic gamble that ended up in huge losses for the Barazanis. It was a miscalculation that put the progress the Kurds had achieved after 2003 in grave danger. The miscalculation was in two ways:

The first was when Barzani decided on his own to go through with the referendum, forcing other Kurdish parties to follow through although they were not convinced with it, he was choosing between recovering his damaged political capital and alienating Baghdad, the regional and world powers. But the effect of all lobbying and PR campaigns that went on for years where nullified. The whole world stood one stand against Barzani’s move, and he found himself alone.

The second was that he thought the Kurdish people’s aspiration for independence would make them forget about their rights and prosperity. He imagined that by calling for independence the Kurdish people would look away from the way he manages the KRG, especially when they see his cronies indulge in all the wealth while they go through economic hardship. So while he gained a surge of popularity amongst the Kurdish people for a few weeks, he lost is very fast again by losing Kirkuk and lots of other privileges which although illegal and unconstitutional, had been had been tolerating.

Retaking Kirkuk showed how fragile and not ready the KRG was for independence. The demonstrations later showed in what political and economic dilemma the Kurds and more specifically the KDP was. The same party that was ruling the KRG and calling for independence was not able to pay public employees their salaries.

Barham Salih’s win against KDP in terms of the Iraqi presidency brought back the PUK to the political scene not only in Baghdad but also in Erbil, and it was a humiliation and a clear manifestation how weakened and non-influential KDP had become in Baghdad. The visit was to cement what he has regained in Baghdad. He already got one deputy speaker, and three ministers with the finance minister being the deputy prime minister. This effort is an implicit admission that being weak in Baghdad means being weak in Erbil as well.

We saw that prominent figures like the speaker of parliament of Iraq and Hadi Ameri welcomed him at the airport, how much he is effective in Iraq?

He lost lots of influence in Baghdad. However, he still has a lot of leverage, if he chooses to use it wisely and as long as he is not pushing towards secession, at least not explicitly. He still commands a large political bloc in the Iraqi parliament; he has gained important positions for his party in the new federal cabinet and is negotiating for even more; he has the largest bloc in the Kurdish parliament; and his personal finances and that of his clan are plenty.

With all that, the weakened parties in Baghdad which none of them gained substantial political weight after the elections are scrambling to win over the favors of a relatively large political party in the parliament.

The respect Halbosi and Ameri showed Barzani by welcoming him in the airport is a wish to win him over. The Bina block is eager to have him on their side in order to counterweight the popularly stronger bloc of Saeroon, with the Islah bloc also showing him respect and willing to open a new page with him, especially his visit Sadr and Abadi. Barzani saw all sides and will offer support in return of fulfilling his own demands

Reporter’s code: 40101