The Kurdistan Regional Government announced on Wednesday its rejection of the current draft of the 2027 general budget law, calling on the federal government to review the draft before it is presented for discussion and voting. According to a statement
from the regional government, the Council of Ministers, chaired by Masrour Barzani, reviewed the outcomes of recent negotiations conducted by the regional delegation with the federal Ministry of Finance regarding Article 10 of the draft. The council also discussed the
results of a federal delegation's visit led by the Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs, including the Ministers of Oil and Electricity, and the related discussions on oil and energy files within the budget framework. The council emphasized that the
preparation of the budget must be based on the constitution and principles of justice and partnership, taking into account the constitutional and federal status of the region along with its powers and financial entitlements. It expressed objection to what it
described as unilateral conditions and procedures imposed by the federal government, demanding that the region's share be set at 14.14%, reflecting its population percentage according to the official results of the latest census, while ensuring the rest of its financial
dues. The council 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 also instructed to submit alternative proposals supported by constitutional, legal,
and financial documents to federal authorities and political forces participating in the governing coalition, aiming to amend the draft. The council urged the federal government 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. It expressed hope that the 2027 budget, under the current federal government leadership, would enable a constitutional settlement of outstanding financial issues between Baghdad and Erbil, preventing ongoing
disputes in the upcoming year. The council reiterated the regional government's commitment to its constitutional and legal duties and its insistence on the entitlements it demands. It noted that the region has provided the required data and information, and that
its accounts undergo periodic joint auditing and review by relevant institutions on both sides. It warned against relying on incorrect information to impose additional conditions in the budget, affirming its support for the negotiating delegation and the continuation of dialogue
with the federal government to reach an agreement that secures the rights of all parties and strengthens partnership within the federal system.
