Iraq PM to Visit Paris, Berlin in September, Government Spox Says

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is scheduled to visit Paris and Berlin in the second half of September following official invitations from France and Germany, Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, al-Aboudi said the visits are part of Baghdad’s policy of maintaining a balanced foreign policy and diversifying its international relations.

He said Iraq seeks to develop productive partnerships with European countries in a way that serves its national interests and safeguards its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Al-Aboudi said Iraq’s 2027 federal budget will not simply extend the previous budget law, describing the new draft as a historic shift toward program- and performance-based budgeting.

Under the proposed approach, public spending would be more closely tied to the actual implementation of government projects, he said, adding that the system is intended to improve expenditure control and address cash-flow challenges.

Earlier Monday, al-Aboudi told Kurdistan24 that the Iraqi Council of Ministers is expected to submit the draft 2027 budget law to Parliament in September.

The government spokesperson also highlighted Baghdad’s ongoing anti-graft campaign, saying efforts go beyond prosecuting individuals accused of corruption.

He said the government is working to eliminate the sources of corruption, close legal and administrative loopholes, and recover stolen public assets both before and after violations occur.

Al-Aboudi said 26,000 corruption complaints have so far been filed against state institutions.

Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), he said the government’s anti-graft efforts have achieved several significant milestones that, in his view, had not been witnessed in Iraq since 2003.

On the energy sector, al-Aboudi said Iraq exported 2.359 million barrels of oil in August, while confirming that August salaries had been fully secured.

The figures come as Baghdad continues to face fiscal pressures linked to oil revenues, public-sector expenditure and disputes over oil exports.

On the security file, al-Aboudi announced that September 30, has been set as the final deadline for resolving the issue of armed groups outside state control.

He reiterated that establishing a state monopoly over weapons remains a key priority under the government’s ministerial program.

According to al-Aboudi, the measures being taken represent a return to normal state authority and constitutional principles, noting that Iraq’s Constitution prohibits the establishment of armed groups outside the framework of the official security forces.

Al-Aboudi also pointed to September 30 as a major milestone for Iraqi sovereignty, saying the government is awaiting the date when the international coalition mission is expected to end its presence on Iraqi territory.

The planned end of the coalition mission marks another stage in Iraq’s efforts to strengthen its security institutions and assume full responsibility for national security.