BAGHDAD — Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani visited Baghdad Nov. 22. With that visit, he ended an entire year of accusations and threats between himself and federal authorities that followed the September 2017 referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan Region.

Shortly after his return from Baghdad, Barzani said new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was more understanding and cooperative than Haider al-Abadi was when it came to Kurdish issues and resolving them.

Barzani then headed to Najaf to meet with Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist movement. This let slip a new policy that Barzani might be planning to adopt in light of the current changes represented by the federal forces imposing control on Kirkuk, the disputed areas and border crossings, in addition to the coming adoption of the 2019 general budget and Baghdad's insistence on reducing the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) share to less than 17%.

KDP leader Muhsin al-Sadoun told Al-Monitor, “Barzani discussed with Abdul Mahdi and leaders of the parliamentary blocs outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil, but the main reason for the visit is his desire to activate the role of the political party in the negotiations between the blocs. His meeting with Sadr was to mediate and put an end to the deadlock in negotiations in order to form the government.”