Baghdad prepares, approves annual federal budget without Kurdistan consultation: KRG

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The federal government of Iraq developed and approved the annual federal budget without consulting with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the KRG complained in a statement on Friday.

“This is a contradiction of federalism principles, especially participation in governing and revenue sharing for the interest of all people in Iraq as it is explicitly mentioned in the federal constitution,” the statement read.

The KRG also advised the Kurdish members of the Iraqi parliament to review the numbers carefully, rely on scientific comparisons and accurate data, and assess the previous Erbil-Baghdad deal so agreements would be enacted “practically.”

“The Kurdistan Region should not be pushed under a legal commitment to a deal that would eventually harm the interests of the Kurdish people rather than serve them,” the KRG report said.

Kurdistan has 1.4 million government employees who create a substantial financial load on the KRG in the current financial crisis.

As a result, the government has been unable to pay wages sufficiently and on time.

The Erbil government also mentioned they had not been informed officially about the federal government’s draft bill, but rather they had seen some articles of the plan on social media.

In addition to the 300,000 Kurdish oil barrels per day exported abroad through Baghdad, the KRG said the federal government had only set a monthly budget of IQD 317 billion (273 million US dollar) to the Kurdistan Region.

According to the KRG, this number does not meet the full salary of public employees which is about IQD 880 billion ($758 million USD).

Moreover, the KRG expressed readiness for any productive negotiations and agreements with the government of Iraq regarding the federal budget to guarantee the financial rights of the Region.

“Oppositely, the Kurdistan Region would be obliged not to abide if one side imposes the bills without any agreement,” the KRG emphasized.

Additionally, the Erbil government invited the Kurdish MPs in Baghdad to provide accurate numbers and detailed data prepared by financial experts in the KRG Council of Ministers to choose the best options in the interests of the Kurdistan people.

The Kurdistan Region, with a population of six million people, is home to over 1.8 million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany