"Census critical for federal budget share, must remain apolitical", says KRG Planning Minister
The minister announced that the Iraqi Council of Ministers agreed to most of the KRG's census requirements but expressed concerns about the potential politicization of the process.
Nov. 14, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Dr. Dara Rashid, Minister of Planning for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), emphasized on Thursday, the importance of the upcoming national census during a press conference addressing the census process in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region's provinces.
The minister revealed that following extensive discussions, the Iraqi Council of Ministers recently agreed to implement most of the KRG's requirements regarding the census process. However, he acknowledged ongoing concerns about potential politicization of the process.
"The census is extremely important for both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region," Dr. Rashid stated, explaining that it will determine the Kurdistan Region's share of the federal budget and influence Kurdish representation in the Iraqi Parliament.
He emphasized that both the Iraqi federal government and the KRG maintain ongoing discussions about the census, stressing that "the census must not be politicized or used against Iraq's components, particularly Kurds, Turkmen, Christians, and other minorities."
The minister expressed concern about the historical politicization of Iraqi censuses, noting that "Unfortunately, throughout history, the census process in Iraq has been politically motivated... Every previous census was preceded by demographic and geographic changes."
Dr. Rashid disclosed that since the formation of the KRG's ninth cabinet, the Planning Ministry has engaged in discussions with three Iraqi ministerial cabinets regarding the census process. "Our main concern has been the Kurdish areas outside the Kurdistan Region's administration. We have previously warned all parties that we have legal and constitutional issues with this census, as it cannot serve as a substitute for the counting process outlined in Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution."
Regarding preparations, the minister confirmed that the KRG's Planning Ministry and Statistics Authority have managed to "accomplish the most work with minimal time and budget."
The national census in Iraq holds particular significance for the Kurdistan Region, as it directly impacts federal budget allocations and political representation.
Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution addresses the status of disputed territories, including Kirkuk, and calls for normalization, census, and referendum processes.
The last comprehensive census in Iraq was conducted in 1987, with the 1997 census excluding the Kurdistan Region, making current population statistics largely based on estimates.