Kurdistan Presidency proposes meeting to form unified position on Iraqi budget law

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – In response to the Iraqi parliament passed a law on Thursday to finance the fiscal deficit in the absence of Kurdish lawmakers, the regional president's office said later that day that the move was made without "the principle of partnership" and called for officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Kurdish representatives in the federal government to meet to "unify positions" on the matter.

A statement from the office expressed its concern as “the fiscal deficit financing law that was approved at dawn on Thursday in the Iraqi parliament by a majority and without taking into account the principles of partnership, consensus, and balance, and without paying attention to the remarks and proposals of the representatives of the Kurdistan Region,"

"We extend our thanks to all Kurdish blocs and MPs from the Kurdistan Region who have already taken a unified position to defend the rights and entitlements of the people of Kurdistan," the statement said.

It continued, "The Presidency of the Kurdistan Region is looking with concern and the utmost attention to this issue and will use its efforts." 

Read More: Iraq’s parliament passes deficit law without Kurdish consent

The fiscal deficit law that the government has been waiting for is to secure employees' delayed salaries for several weeks, as the country is going through one of the most severe financial crises in years due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting steep decline in oil prices. Petroleum sales provide for the vast majority of the Middle Eastern nation's annual budget.

"The three presidencies of the Kurdistan Region, the concerned authorities, and the representatives of the Kurdistan Region in the federal government and the House of Representatives will meet for this purpose, to unify the positions of the concerned authorities,” the statement concluded. 

Editing by John J. Catherine