Kurdistan Region Rejects Current Budget Draft and Calls for Review Before Voting

The Kurdistan Region's Council of Ministers has called on the federal government to reconsider the draft general budget law for 2027 before it is presented for discussion and voting, expressing rejection of its current form. During its weekly meeting chaired by Masrour Barzani, the council reviewed the outcomes of recent talks between the regional delegation and the federal Ministry of Finance regarding Article 10 of the draft, as well as the results of the federal delegation's visit led by the Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs, with the participation of the Ministers of Oil and Electricity, and discussions related to oil and energy files within the budget framework. The council emphasized that the preparation of the budget should be based on the constitution and principles of justice and partnership, taking into account the constitutional and federal status of the region, its powers, and entitlements. It objected to what it described as unilateral conditions and procedures imposed by the federal government. The council demanded that the region's share be set at 14.14%, representing its population proportion according to the official results of the latest census, while ensuring its other financial entitlements. It tasked the negotiating delegation with clarifying constitutional violations and inaccuracies in the draft's clauses and tables, and explaining their impact on the region's rights. The delegation was directed to submit alternative proposals supported by constitutional, legal, and financial documents to federal authorities and political forces within the ruling coalition to amend the draft. The federal government was urged not to proceed with referring the draft for discussion and voting before completing the necessary reviews and including clear guarantees for the region's constitutional and financial rights. The council expressed hope that the 2027 budget, under the new federal government, would enable a constitutional settlement of outstanding financial issues between Baghdad and Erbil and prevent ongoing disputes in the coming year. It reaffirmed the regional government's commitment to its constitutional and legal duties and its insistence on the entitlements it demands, noting that it has provided the required data and information and that its accounts undergo joint monthly and quarterly audits by relevant institutions on both sides. A warning was issued against relying on inaccurate information to impose additional conditions in the budget. The council confirmed its support for the negotiating delegation and the continuation of dialogue with the federal government to reach an agreement that ensures the rights of all parties and strengthens partnership within the federal system.