Iraqi parliament begins budget amendment process
Shakhawan Abdulla, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, told Kurdistan24 that efforts are underway to resume discussions, with a second reading scheduled for Thursday and a final vote planned for next week, marking the last week of parliamentary work.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Iraqi parliament convened on Tuesday for the first reading of budget amendments covering 2023, 2024, and 2025. However, the session was adjourned indefinitely, according to a statement issued by the parliamentary press office.
Shakhawan Abdulla, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, told Kurdistan24 that efforts are underway to resume discussions, with a second reading scheduled for Thursday and a final vote planned for next week, marking the last week of parliamentary work.
A primary focus of the amendments is resolving the cost of oil production, a sticking point in negotiations. Abdulla noted that the issue has been addressed in the proposed changes, clearing the way for the export of oil from the Kurdistan Region once the amendments are passed.
"So far, no political party has raised concerns about production costs," Abdulla stated, emphasizing that the Iraqi Prime Minister has prioritized passing the amendments. "Failure to export oil would result in significant damage to Iraq. The contracts and oil fields differ between regions, but all parties have supported the amendments."
The resolution of this issue is seen as crucial for stabilizing Iraq's economy and ensuring smoother cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government on oil exports.