Late on Friday/Saturday night, the Iraqi parliament concluded its session after voting on various articles in the draft federal budget law for a three-year period. While several articles were approved, differences among the members prevented the passage of Articles 14 to 17.

Yesterday evening, the Iraqi Parliament successfully passed Articles 1 to 13 and 18 to 24 of the draft budget law for the next three years. However, Article 14, which holds significant importance, was not approved due to disagreements and concerns among some parliament members.

The Presidency of the Iraqi Council of Representatives decided to adjourn the session and scheduled its continuation for today, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 5 p.m. The purpose of the extended session is to provide further discussions on the draft general budget law for the three-year period and attempt to reach a consensus on the contentious Article 14.

During the parliamentary session, a vote took place on Articles 12 and 13, which address the rights and financial entitlements of the Kurdistan Region. However, Article 14, relating to the resolution of disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi government, was not put to a vote. Concerns were raised regarding attempts by certain factions within the Iraqi Parliament to exploit Article 14 against the people of the Kurdistan Region.

Dr. Shakhwan Abdullah, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, expressed his reservations about the amendments made to Article 14 by the Finance Committee. According to Dr. Abdullah, the modified version contradicts the original agreement. Instead of establishing a committee to investigate and resolve problems between the two governments, the revised article suggests that if any issues remain unresolved within 15 days, the Kurdistan Region's budget would be subject to cuts. Dr. Abdullah emphasized the importance of reverting to the original version of Article 14.

To ensure the fair treatment of the Kurdistan Region and avoid potential budgetary challenges, Dr. Abdullah and the heads of the Kurdish blocs decided not to approve any other articles until a consensus is reached on Article 14. They expressed concerns that if the remaining articles were passed, Article 14 might be pushed through by a majority vote, undermining the agreed-upon principles.

Dr. Abdullah pointed out that the Finance Committee's amendments to Article 14 were made without consensus, raising significant concerns. He stressed the need to protect the Kurdistan Region's budget and prevent any justification for potential cuts based on ambiguous or unapproved amendments.

Despite the stalemate regarding Article 14, Articles 15, 16, and 17 also faced disputes among other political parties, resulting in their non-approval during the session.

The Iraqi Parliament's session is set to resume at 5 p.m. today, Saturday, with the expectation of approving the remaining articles of the draft federal budget law. However, the primary focus will remain on reaching an agreement on Article 14 to ensure equitable budget allocation and maintain harmonious relations between Erbil and Baghdad.