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Former committee member warns factions will seek to block Kurdistan’s budget share

PM:08:31:14/03/2023

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SULAIMANI — The former coordinator of the Iraqi parliament’s finance committee, Ahmed Safar, predicted some politicians will try to prevent the approval of the Kurdistan Region’s share of the national budget because they do not want a stable Kurdistan to exist.

Safar announced during an appearance on NRT’s Navini Rozh program on Tuesday (March 14) that this year’s budget was the largest in Iraq’s history and this could be the first time the country approves a three-year budget.

"This is contrary to the principle of public finances, because financial evaluation should be carried out annually, not for three years," he said.

Safar said the price of oil is unstable and oil is the main source of income in the country.

Regarding the Region's share, the former coordinator said the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) share of Iraq's general budget is 12.67 percent.

He said the Region’s share of the budget should amount to 25 trillion Iraqi dinars in order for the KRG to provide employees’ salaries. But Safar stated some parties do not want stability in the Kurdistan Region and may seek to block the budget’s approval.

Safar warned the budget was not guaranteed.

(NRT Digital Media)