Budget in the Balance.. A Challenge Threatens the First Amendment

Budget in the Balance.. A Challenge Threatens the First Amendment

2-3-2025

Budget in the Balance.. A Challenge Threatens the First AmendmentInformation / Report..
Yesterday’s parliament session witnessed a vote on the first amendment to the budget law, but parliamentarians confirmed that the legal quorum was not complete, which sparked widespread controversy over the legitimacy of the legislative procedures followed.
In a statement, the Front of Representatives of the Center and the South confirmed that the vote took place in the absence of the legal quorum, which constitutes a clear constitutional violation. It explained that resorting to the Federal Court today comes to ensure transparency and integrity in the legislative process, based on the constitution and applicable laws.
For their part, legal experts explained that the Federal Court will review the evidence submitted by the Finance Committee and the rest of the objecting representatives, and if it is confirmed that the quorum is not complete, the first amendment to the budget may be cancelled, to be returned to Parliament for a sound legal vote.
Political and economic circles are awaiting the decision of the Federal Court, which will be decisive in determining the constitutional path of this amendment and its impact on the future of the general budget.
Regarding this file, the Parliamentary Finance Committee filed an appeal with the Federal Court against passing the first amendment to the budget law, amid confirmations that the legal quorum was not complete during the session.
Committee member, MP Hussein Al-Saabri, explained in a statement to / Al-Maalouma / agency, that “their withdrawal from the session to vote on the budget amendment came with the aim of breaking the quorum,” stressing that “they are continuing to challenge its convening due to their conviction that the legal quorum is not available.”
He pointed out that “amending Article 12 without reviewing Article 14 (Article 14 of the Federal Budget Law relates to the mechanism for managing oil revenues in the Kurdistan Region and stipulates that all oil revenues from the region, whether exported or sold locally, shall be deposited in a special account affiliated with the Federal Ministry of Finance without any deductions) constitutes an injustice to the central and southern governorates,” stressing “the need to review Article 14 to ensure justice and fairness for the residents of these areas.”
He also stressed “the importance of studying Article 12 more carefully to ensure the achievement of its desired goals,” adding that “there are large financial obligations owed by the Kurdistan Regional Government that have not yet been settled, which requires comprehensive treatment that guarantees the rights of all parties in accordance with the law.”

Independent MP Amir Al-Maamouri considered the passage of the amendment to Article 12 of the Triennial Budget Law for the years (2023, 2024 and 2025) retroactively unfair and will cost the state budget significant financial burdens.
Al-Maamouri said in a statement to Al-Maalouma Agency, “Voting on the amendment to Paragraph 12, Second C, regarding calculating the cost of producing a barrel of oil in the Kurdistan fields will cost the state budget additional financial burdens,” noting that “calculating the cost of production at $16 for 400,000 barrels will increase the budget deficit.”
He added that “passing the amendment to Article 12 retroactively is unfair and will cost the state budget additional financial burdens,” noting that “calculating the cost of production at $16 for 400,000 barrels will increase the budget deficit.”
Al-Maamouri called for “assigning the companies operating in the central and southern fields to evaluate the cost of production for the Kurdistan Region’s oil fields.”
On the other hand, Al-Maamouri confirms that “the region, according to the Minister of Finance during her hosting in the Finance Committee, has not delivered the financial dues to the treasury, especially since there are accumulations from previous years.” It
is noteworthy that the Council of Representatives voted, yesterday, Sunday, to amend paragraph 12 of the Federal Budget Law related to the oil of the Kurdistan Region.

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