The budget is in the balance of power due to the elections. A serious delay is hindering infrastructure projects and deepening crises.
The budget is in the balance of power due to the elections. A serious delay is hindering infrastructure projects and deepening crises.
7-15-2025
Information/Baghdad…
Political interests are competing with the demands of the current phase regarding the interests of Iraq and its people, related to the budget schedules and the legislation of important laws within Parliament. The search for electoral interests and gains may be one of the reasons behind the delay in sending the budget schedules to the Council of Representatives, thus obstructing many projects and interests awaited by the Iraqi people. Most of the political class is currently working to win votes and gain supporters to ensure this class returns to power. This makes the focus at the present time on elections and electoral campaigns without considering the country’s higher interests related to the budget and important legislation within Parliament.
MP Kazem Al-Shammari told Al-Maalouma, “The funds allocated to the Electoral Commission are fully secured, and there is no need to borrow or take additional financial measures in this regard. The crisis is related to the state’s general budget, as the delay in sending the budget to Parliament is due to the large deficit recorded in it. Therefore, the government may not send the approved budget to the House of Representatives due to this deficit.” He stressed the need for the government to “adopt realistic and rapid solutions to the financial deficit, and present a clear economic vision that guarantees budget stability and the continuation of vital projects.”
On the other hand, Intisar Al-Jazaery, a member of parliament for the State of Law Coalition, confirmed to Al-Maalouma that “the Ministry of Finance has not yet sent the federal budget tables to Parliament, despite the passage of more than half of the fiscal year, and this delay is disrupting the implementation of investment and service programs.” She pointed out that “the percentage of the budget deficit has not yet been officially determined, in light of the Ministry of Finance’s failure to provide clear details in this regard. However, it is important to enhance transparency in presenting financial data to legislative institutions and public opinion.”
In a related development, Ali Al-Fatlawi, a member of the Coordination Framework, explained to Al-Maalomah that “the process of approving the budget schedules faces major challenges, in light of the approaching date of the parliamentary elections scheduled for next November, as the political forces’ preoccupation with propaganda campaigns will negatively impact legislative performance within Parliament.” He indicated that “these schedules are necessary to implement infrastructure projects and ensure the regularity of government spending and operating expenses for ministries and governorates,” calling for “the formation of a unified parliamentary position to pressure for its passage before it is too late.”
Al-Fatlawi pointed out that “the lack of coordination between the government and parliament has caused clear confusion in managing the financial file, with each party operating separately from the other, leading to delays in approving schedules and preventing allocations from reaching the relevant authorities.”
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