Six points of disagreement impede the adoption of the Iraqi budget

[yota691]

Budget of 2019. Changes in the share of the region and increase the salaries of its employees

Editorial date: 2019/1/12 17:30 • 74 times read

(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) The Secretary of the Council of Ministers in the Kurdistan region Amang Rahim, increased allocations of salaries of regional employees in the federal budget for the year 2019.

Rahim said on his page in the social networking site {Facebook} that "there have been changes in the share of the Kurdistan region of the budget for the year 2019, and the allocations of salaries of employees from the budget rose from 3 trillion and 828 million dinars to 5 trillion and 448 billion dinars, 317 billion to 454 billion dinars with 137 billion dinars a month. " 
He added that "the allocations of the Peshmerga forces will be on the basis of the full allocations of the army and not the allocations of salaries only and this is another change," noting that "not linking the disbursement of these allocations oil commitments between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government change the last tara on the budget."
"All the changes are still just a bill and its implementation is related to the ratification of the House of Representatives on the draft federal budget law for the year 2019," he said. ".is over

[yota691]

Parliamentary finance seeks to stop external borrowing in the budget of 2019

 

money and business Economy News _ Baghdad The Finance Committee in the House of Representatives, on Sunday, sought to stop foreign borrowing in the budget of 2019, and avoid dumping the Iraqi economy in the long and short term external debt.  "We have a vision in the Finance Committee that continuing the external borrowing in 2019 is a big mistake that will be paid for by future generations. There is no justification for borrowing about $ 5 billion," said Hoshyar Abdullah, a member of the committee. Iraq has a good cash reserve, with other mechanisms that can be used as an alternative to borrowing, such as voluntary savings and revitalization of government banks by raising interest rates for individuals and companies, seeking to increase domestic production and restricting imports of locally available products, Of the solutions followed Such conditions are experienced by countries with economies similar to the Iraqi economy. " Abdullah explained that "long-term and short-term foreign loans have high benefits, and what was borrowed during the previous years is a serious strategic error," stressing that "the suspension of foreign loans in 2019 is a national step requires the support and support of the House of Representatives." Views 66   Date Added 01/13/2019

[yota691]

Disclosure of inclusion of a supporting paragraph for the national product in the budget of 2019

Editorial date: 2019/1/12 20:08 • 161 times read

(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hassan Karim al-Kaabi, included a paragraph within the Financial Budget Act of 2019 on the protection of the national product.

"Al-Kaabi, received by the agency {Euphrates News} a copy of it," to oblige all ministries and government institutions to contract with public sector companies in the event of availability of the product required to them, "calling for" the rehabilitation and opening of central markets throughout Iraq, With limited and competitive prices. " 
He added that "the House of Representatives and its national responsibility in the adoption of a set of resolutions and recommendations supportive of the protection of the national product, as well as the role of parliamentary committees in the control and accountability of government institutions that ignore the legislative and governmental decisions," and called on the Council of Ministers "to activate the law of consumer protection and protection of local product and tighten control Border crossings to limit foreign imports. "
Al-Kaabi pointed out "the great role that different media can play in promoting the efficiency and quality of local products and encouraging their acquisition, especially since most local companies have the international quality certificate" ISO ", pointing to" the need to open new outlets for direct sales and support competitiveness and stimulate entrepreneurs Small. "Finished

[yota691]

Iraq is borrowing $ 5 billion from abroad

Date of release: 2019/1/13 11:10 • 340 times read

(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) A member of the Finance Committee of the parliamentary, Hoshyar Abdullah, the arrival of Iraq's foreign loans to five billion dollars.

Abdullah said in a statement received by the agency {Euphrates News} a copy of it, "The most important things agreed by the Committee in the financial budget for the year 2019 stop foreign borrowing and avoid dumping the Iraqi economy in the long and short term foreign debt." 
"We have a vision in the Finance Committee that continued foreign borrowing in 2019 is a big mistake to pay for future generations, there is no justification to borrow about $ 5 billion, while Iraq has a good cash reserve." 
pointed to "
Abdullah explained that "long and short term foreign loans have high benefits, and what was borrowed during the previous years is a serious strategic error," noting that "the suspension of external loans in 2019 is a national step requires the support and support of the House of Representatives

[yota691]

Parliament is a subcommittee to discuss sovereign expenditures in the budget

01:13 - 13/01/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - 
The House of Representatives decided on Sunday to form a subcommittee to discuss the sovereign expenditures in the budget of 2019. 
The Information Service of the Council, in a statement received / Mawazine News / a copy of it, "The Parliamentary Finance Committee held a meeting chaired by MP Ahmed Saffar today, Articles and paragraphs of the general budget for 2019 ". 
The department added that "the discussions included the subject of sovereign expenditures and the proportion of the Kurdistan region and financial dues on the region and the quantities of oil to be issued daily in 2019 and salaries of staff of the region." 
She pointed out that "the meeting decided to form a subcommittee consisting of a number of members to discuss the sovereign expenditure in the budget." Ended 29 / a 43

[yota691]

Parliament puts {final touches} on the budget and pass it {pat imminent}

Saturday 12 January 2019 56

 

 

Baghdad / Sabah / Shaima Rashid

 

After completion of the first and second readings of the budget bill for the current year, within the House of Representatives, the Finance Committee intensified its meetings with the political blocs in order to put the final touches, and the maturity of the project to the satisfaction of all parties.

It is hoped that the next sessions of Parliament will pass the budget, after the approval of most of the political blocs on the current draft, which saw a lot of amendments. 

The Committee member Gamal Kogger, said in a statement to "morning": "The Finance Committee listen to the views of the government on the draft budget after hearing the remarks of deputies to develop the final features of the draft law," explaining that "the meetings of the Council on the budget, ended after the completion of reading First and second, and waiting for the vote session. " 

For his part, MP Bahaa al-Din al-Nuri, said in a statement to "morning", "The parliament extended its legislative term until the adoption of the budget," noting that "the draft law contains many problems in terms of non-observance of population ratios and oil-producing provinces, Degrees of employment or funds allocated to strategic projects. "

 He added that "the joint committee between the parliament and the government is studying a number of proposals and soon will be resolved draft budget," noting that "Parliament seeks to be a service of interest to the country where has been allocated one trillion dinars for service projects."

While MP Mohammed Khalidi, in a press statement, that the non-introduction of the budget law on the House of Representatives during the session on Saturday is due to give an opportunity for the Finance Committee to hold intensive meetings with representatives of the political blocs in order to agree on passing the law.

He added that "the change in the budget is a little because of fear of falling world oil prices and not to increase pressure on the government," noting that "the estimate of oil prices by about $ 56 a barrel remained the same within the budget."

Khalidi said that "the budget law will pass easily in the coming days that most of the political blocs agreed on the current draft and the changes and transfers of funds."

"We have submitted a proposal to the House of Representatives to include a paragraph in the budget that gives powers to the Director General of the self-financing companies that have won the remuneration of workers," MP Jamal Mohammedawi said. Within the company's staff. "

"This proposal comes to the urgent need to encourage workers to increase production and efficiency."

"We have also submitted a proposal to loan staff in the South Gas Company to the Gas Company of Basra and authorize the Minister of Oil powers to extend the loan period, with the exception of Article 38 of the Civil Service Law."

On the other hand, MP Faleh al-Khazali said during a press conference held on Saturday that "the Council of Ministers to develop grades for the purpose of fixing contracts and conduct employees of public companies and self-financed directorates of the Ministry of Electricity of employees in the form of contract and daily wages within operating or investment expenses and calculated the duration of the contract and the daily wage Effective service for purposes of premium, promotion and retirement ".

He stressed the importance of "to meet the pensions of the period of contract and the salary calculated and does not entail any financial consequences retroactively with the obligation of the Ministries of Electricity and Finance issuance of confirmation orders before the end of the first half of 2019."

He pointed out that "stabilizing the owners (contracts and wages daily) does not have significant financial implications and will contribute to guarantee the rights of employees and enhance confidence in their work to receive them and the responsibility, especially that some of them have died while carrying out the tasks entrusted to them and did not take any pension rights, Financial benefits in the 2019 budget. "

As for the province of Basra, says member of the House of Representatives Safa Muslim, in a statement to "morning": "The budget of 2019 contains many things unfair, especially for the province of Basra, especially as the deputies of the province see it."

She added that "Basra today attractive economically, but the infrastructure needs to be rehabilitated, especially health, which was not taken into account in the budget," calling on the Ministry of Planning to "conduct a census in order to know the ratios per 

Governorate".

[Pitcher]

The incoming Iraqi state budget for the year 2019 will include texts that seek protection of national production, Hassan al-Kaabi, the first deputy parliament speaker said.

He urged opening central markets in Iraq and including all the local products in it at competitive prices.

“The parliament, out of a sense of national responsibility, will take several procedures to support the national product, in addition to the parliament’s committees to monitor the governmental institutions which ignore the legislative and government’s decisions,” he added.

Kaabi also urged the cabinet to activate the laws on consumer and local products protection and restricting control on border exits to limit imports. He highlighted necessity to open new outlets, support competition and stimulate owners of the small-sized projects.

Last month, Iraq's parliament reportedly finished the first reading of the draft of the budget for the fiscal year 2019. The revenues of the 2019 budget is estimated at about 150.6 trillion Iraqi dinars according to the estimated revenues from the export of crude oil on the basis of the rate of $56 per barrel, and an export rate of 3,880,000 barrels per day.

 

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/35125/State-budget-to-include-texts-on-national-products-protection-Parl-t-deputy-speaker

[yota691]

Deputy for the rest: Budget 2019 consumption and will consume these provinces

Date of release: 2019/1/14 12:36 • 170 times read

(Baghdad: al-Furat News) criticized a deputy for the Mass Suron, the federal budget bill for the year 2019, "describing it as" consumerism. "

Rami al-Sakini said in a press statement that "the budget in its current form a flimsy budget can not be at the level of citizen ambition," stressing that "the ministries of finance and planning need to plan." 
"There are a lot of vague figures in this budget, which will undermine many segments of society and the concerns of the citizen did not leave the privacy of oil-producing provinces affected by the production of oil and the environment such as Basra as well as destroyed provinces." 
Al-Sakini pointed out that "the budget offers the same mistakes repeated as a result of the mentality flaccid in the ministries of planning and finance," noting that "we find that the budget is not at the level of ambition and does not keep the balance of financial and strategic planning as consumer budget consumer."

[yota691]

Minister of Finance and UN Representative discuss the adoption of the budget

History of edits:: 2019/1/13 19:25 • 131 times readable

Baghdad: Finance Minister Fuad Hussein and the representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Iraq, Janet Henness, discussed on Sunday the adoption of the general budget.

A statement by the Office of the Minister of Finance received the agency {Euphrates News}, a copy of it, that Hussein "received in Baghdad, Janet Henness, representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq," noting that "Henness offered congratulations and congratulations to the Minister of Finance on the occasion of the formation of the government and the appointment of his new position and wish him success Conciliation ". 
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Janet Henness congratulated her for being named representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq, praising "the important role played by the United Nations to assist Iraq in the process of democratic transformation, reconstruction and stability throughout the country" In the statement.
"The power of the central government is growing stronger with the local authorities through the distribution of powers, tasks and duties," he said, adding that "the importance of strengthening the local authorities and giving them the necessary role to manage their areas" . 
"The two sides discussed what the international organization can do in supporting and developing economic policies in Iraq in order to achieve economic growth, create jobs and combat corruption through the government program," the statement said. 
He added that they "also discussed the steps to complete the state budget and the need to expedite its approval in order to start the campaigns of reconstruction and construction and the provision of services."

[yota691]

United Nations stresses the need to speed passage of the law of Iraq's budget

07:03 - 13/01/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - 
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Fouad Hussein on Sunday discussed with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's representative Janet Hines the possibility of the international organization supporting Iraq in developing its economic policy and creating jobs. 
"The Secretary General of the United Nations in Iraq, Janet Hennes, received in Baghdad the congratulations and congratulations to the Minister of Finance on the occasion of the formation of the government and his appointment to his new post, which is a success and success," Hussein's media office said in a statement received by Mawazine News. "He said. 
For his part, congratulated the Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs, "Janet Henness to be named representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq," praising the "
"The importance of strengthening the local authorities and giving them the necessary role to manage their areas, and that the strength of the central government is growing stronger by local authorities through the distribution of powers, tasks and duties," he said. 
The statement pointed out that "the two sides discussed what can be done by the international organization in support and development of economic policies in Iraq in order to achieve economic growth and job creation and the fight against corruption through the government program," pointing out that they "also discussed steps to complete the state budget and the urgency of speeding In its approval to start the campaigns of reconstruction and construction and the provision of services. "

[yota691]

Al-Kaabi announces the inclusion of a paragraph supporting the national product by the budget of 2019

 

money and business Economy News _ Baghdad The first deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Hassan al-Kaabi, on Monday, included a paragraph supporting the national product by the budget of 2019, calling for the opening of new outlets for direct sales and support competitiveness and stimulate small entrepreneurs.  "The latter called for the inclusion of a paragraph within the Financial Budget Act of 2019 on the protection of the national product, and the reopening of central markets and support of national products," the press office said in a statement.  Al-Kaabi stressed that "all ministries and government institutions must contract with public sector companies in the event of availability of the required product, rehabilitation and opening of central markets throughout Iraq, provided that all local products are available at limited and competitive prices." He stressed that "the House of Representatives and its national responsibility in the adoption of a set of resolutions and recommendations supportive of the protection of the national product, as well as the role of parliamentary committees in the control and accountability of government institutions that ignore legislative and governmental decisions."  Al-Kaabi called on the Council of Ministers to activate the "Consumer Protection Law and protect the local product and tighten the controls on border ports to limit foreign imports." He pointed out the great role that different media can play in promoting the efficiency and quality of local products and encouraging their acquisition. On the international quality certificate "ISO".  "The need to open new outlets for direct sales and support competitiveness and stimulate small entrepreneurs." Number of Views 2   Date Added 14/01/2019

[yota691]

Deputy announces the inclusion of the paragraph fixing the electricity contracts by the budget of 2019

01:47 - 14/01/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - Mawazine News 
MP Ahmed Mazhar announced on Monday the inclusion of the paragraph of the installation of electricity contracts by the budget of 2019. 
Mazhar said in a statement received, "Mawazine News, a copy of it:" We are pleased to bleed the human beings to the employees of investment contracts and operating in the Ministry of Electricity where Their fixation on permanent owners was included in the 2019 budget. " 
Parliament completed the first and second readings of the draft budget bill 2019. Ended 29 / a 43

[yota691]

Kaabi: Parliament will continue to hold meetings this week and next until the adoption of the budget law

Release date: 2019/1/14 14:19 • 10 times read

[10 YEARS LATER]

God almighty.....this week, next week - whenever. Y’all just keep dragging your butts on the carpet....no worries.

[DinarDavo]

37 minutes ago, 10 YEARS LATER said:

God almighty.....this week, next week - whenever. Y’all just keep dragging your butts on the carpet....no worries.

 

How many times have we read the HCL, Article 140 deemed "priorities for the upcoming parliamentary session". The traditional definition of "insanity".....

[Butifldrm]

• economic

Al-Tamimi: Iraq's wrong economic policy will bind Iraq debts until 2070

17:22 - 14/01/2019

0

    

Information / special ... 
Between economist Osama al-Tamimi, Monday, that the government's economic policy wrong will bind Iraq large debts until 2070, while he explained that the extinguishment of international debts need to budget austerity for decades. 
Al-Tamimi said in a statement to Al-Maaloumah that "the Iraqi government's borrowing of $ 135 billion was not mobilized to complete projects or provide services but went to the pockets of corrupt politicians in previous governments," pointing out that "the extinguishment of the debts of the Iraqi government needs austerity budgets lasting for For decades. " 
He added that "the size of the large debts of the Iraqi government poses a significant risk to mortgage the oil fields of creditor countries and expose the sovereignty of the country to a new occupation," noting that "if the current government does not resort to austerity budgets, Iraq will be in debt until 2070."
The parliamentary Finance Committee announced last Saturday, the deficit reached the budget of 2019 about 27 trillion dinars

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/01/14/382705/

[jmartin1145]

2 hours ago, Butifldrm said:

• economic

Al-Tamimi: Iraq's wrong economic policy will bind Iraq debts until 2070

17:22 - 14/01/2019

0

    

Information / special ... 
Between economist Osama al-Tamimi, Monday, that the government's economic policy wrong will bind Iraq large debts until 2070, while he explained that the extinguishment of international debts need to budget austerity for decades. 
Al-Tamimi said in a statement to Al-Maaloumah that "the Iraqi government's borrowing of $ 135 billion was not mobilized to complete projects or provide services but went to the pockets of corrupt politicians in previous governments," pointing out that "the extinguishment of the debts of the Iraqi government needs austerity budgets lasting for For decades. " 
He added that "the size of the large debts of the Iraqi government poses a significant risk to mortgage the oil fields of creditor countries and expose the sovereignty of the country to a new occupation," noting that "if the current government does not resort to austerity budgets, Iraq will be in debt until 2070."
The parliamentary Finance Committee announced last Saturday, the deficit reached the budget of 2019 about 27 trillion dinars

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/01/14/382705/

That's what Obummer did to the USA, so join the party Iraq.

[MyLadiesDaddy]

10 hours ago, yota691 said:

United Nations stresses the need to speed passage of the law of Iraq's budget

07:03 - 13/01/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - 
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Fouad Hussein on Sunday discussed with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's representative Janet Hines the possibility of the international organization supporting Iraq in developing its economic policy and creating jobs. 
"The Secretary General of the United Nations in Iraq, Janet Hennes, received in Baghdad the congratulations and congratulations to the Minister of Finance on the occasion of the formation of the government and his appointment to his new post, which is a success and success," Hussein's media office said in a statement received by Mawazine News. "He said. 
For his part, congratulated the Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs, "Janet Henness to be named representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq," praising the "
"The importance of strengthening the local authorities and giving them the necessary role to manage their areas, and that the strength of the central government is growing stronger by local authorities through the distribution of powers, tasks and duties," he said. 
The statement pointed out that "the two sides discussed what can be done by the international organization in support system" rel="">support and development of economic policies in Iraq in order to achieve economic growth and job creation and the fight against corruption through the government program," pointing out that they "also discussed steps to complete the state budget and the urgency of speeding In its approval to start the campaigns of reconstruction and construction and the provision of services. "

Now WHY do you suppose the U.N. is concerned about Iraq's budget?

[SocalDinar]

Delays to Iraq’s 2019 Budget reflect growing political deadlock

by Ali Al-Mawlawi

Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi meets with his cabinet on 8 January 2019, where some posts remain unfilled. Source: Press Office of the Prime Minister

As Iraq enters a new fiscal year, the proposed 2019 federal budget remains stuck in parliament with few signs that a deal will be reached soon. The delay in passing the budget is symptomatic of the growing political intransigence that is most acutely exhibited in parliament. Twelve weeks after assuming office, Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi’s cabinet is still not complete, with 4 of the 22 ministerial posts vacant including the highly contentious positions for interior and defence ministers.

Disagreements over the budget began back in early October 2018, when then prime minister Haider Al-Abadi’s cabinet reviewed a preliminary draft from the Ministry of Finance. Just a day before Abdul-Mahdi assumed office, a draft bill was submitted to parliament, proposing some $110 billion in total spending, making it the second largest budget in the country’s history.

When parliament convened on 6 November 2018 to undertake a first reading of the bill, it was clear that none of the leading political blocs were willing to move ahead without significant amendments. The two leading parliamentary coalitions – and architects of Abdul-Mahdi’s ascendancy to power – Fateh and Sa’iroon both expressed major reservations about the draft, citing the need for the budget to better reflect the country’s priorities in service provision and job creation.

As a compromise, the government agreed to form a high-level joint committee that would consider the demands of the blocs before submitting an amended version of the bill to parliament. Six weeks later, parliament completed the first reading of the amended bill despite the fact that only minimal changes had been made to the original version. A further $700 million had been added to overall spending including significant budget increases for the Hashd al-Shaabi and the ministries of health and defence.

It was clear that most of the issues raised by the political blocs had not been addressed by the joint committee, so the parliamentary finance committee carried out a thorough review of the draft bill. The committee claimed that the budget in its current form did not meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people and four days later, parliament reconvened to discuss the committee’s findings. Out of 47 recommendations it says it had submitted to the joint committee, only 9 had been incorporated into the amended bill.

Among the major contentions, the committee noted that the budget was no different from previous budgets, namely its heavy dependence on oil revenues, with income from non-oil sources such as taxes and customs only making up a small fraction. Secondly, the bulk of spending is allocated to operational costs, while less than a quarter of the total budget is earmarked for capital spending. Third, the committee raised concerns about the size of the deficit and the extent of growing external and domestic debt. Related to this, it expressed reservations about the continued financing of unprofitable state-owned enterprises. And finally, the committee called for greater allocation of resources to reconstruction and investment in areas liberated from ISIS.

Trends within the budget

The proposed 2019 budget represents a 28% increase in spending compared to last year. To compare, oil revenues are only projected to rise by 22%, meaning that the expected deficit this year is much higher. Projected oil revenues account for nearly 89% of the government’s income, based on an average price of $56 per barrel and exports averaging 3.88m bpd. But with oil prices currently on a downward trend, some lawmakers have urged the government to revise the oil price to as low as $45 per barrel.

However, it is also important to factor in actual spending given sub-optimal budget execution across all state institutions. By the beginning of November, actual spending of operational expenditures was 84%, while capital spending was only 61%. Ministry of Finance records show that by September 2018, the government had already accrued a $15 billion budget surplus. This is also because it generated higher than expected oil revenues. The 2018 budget was based on forecasted oil sales of $64 billion but, by the beginning of November, Iraq had already reached its annual target.

Table 1: Overview of key trends. Figures are in billion IQD.

	2018	2019	Change
Total spending	104,158	133,108	+28%
Capital spending share	23.7%	24.8%	+1.1%
Deficit	12,514	27,539	+120%
Average oil exports	3.888 million bpd (at $46 per barrel)	3.88 million bpd (at $56 per barrel)
Projected oil revenue	77,160	93,741	+22%
Non-oil revenue share	15.2%	11.2%	-4%
Employee compensation (salaries, contractors, pensions, social security)	54,448	62,524	+15%
Total number of salaried employees	2,885,716	2,941,986	+2%

Among the biggest beneficiaries to the expanded budget is the Hashd Al-Shaabi, whose budget has grown by 54%. Although the number of personnel on its payroll has remained frozen at 122,000, the budget increase reflects last year’s parliamentary decree that ensures Hashd members achieve wage parity with other members of the security forces.

Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s share has officially remained at 12.67% of total spending minus sovereign expenses. In real terms however, budgetary appropriations to the KRG have jumped by 47% compared to 2018. A couple of interesting changes happened to the KRG’s share in the amended 2019 bill. Firstly, a breakdown of spending for each of the three KRG provinces was removed. This had been initially introduced in the 2018 budget to illustrate the exact per capita share of the provinces of Erbil, Sulaimaniya and Dohuk. The original version of the 2019 budget maintained this arrangement, but the amended version has done away with it. Secondly, compensation for KRG employees as a share of their total budget inexplicably jumped from 38% to 56%, despite the number of budgeted employees remaining the same at just over 622,000.

While Kurdish lawmakers will continue to push for the reinstatement of their 17% share, it does appear that this will be difficult to achieve. Abdul-Mahdi has hinted that rather than renegotiate their share, Baghdad will pursue a broader political and financial settlement that includes a deal on oil exports as a means toward reaching a compromise.

Table 2: Comparison of budgetary appropriations for key ministries and institutions. All figures are in billion IQD.

	2018	2019	Change
Ministry of Interior	10,067	11,270	+12%
Ministry of Defence	7,487	9,056	+21%
Hashd al-Shaabi	1,682	2,593	+54%
Ministry of Electricity	6,129	10,057	+64%
Ministry of Health	1,919	3,292	+72%
KRG share	6,637	9,783	+47%

As things currently stand, it seems unlikely that the budget will be approved anytime soon. The biggest obstacle lies in the fragmented nature of Iraqi politics. With so many demands and little internal cohesion within parliament, it will be an uphill struggle for the government to satisfy enough parties to get a majority in parliament for the bill. Reports suggest that during the final cabinet meeting of 2018, a decision was made to make yet more changes to it. At what point Abdul-Mahdi’s government will satisfy the demands of the key blocs, or whether agreement on the budget will be tied to a broader deal over the vacant ministerial posts, remains unclear.

What is abundantly clear from the parliamentary debates over the budget is how inconsistent and contradictory the demands have become. On the one hand, lawmakers are concerned about the burgeoning size of spending and the deficit, while at the same time calling for job creation in the public sector. Similarly, the finance committee wants the budget to encourage growth of the private sector, but it has committed to ensuring that all public sector contractors are afforded salaried employment.

This dichotomy between a commitment to fiscal reforms and the political imperative of meeting the popular demands of citizens is emblematic of the general malaise that has afflicted post-war politics in Iraq.

 

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2019/01/14/delays-to-iraqs-2019-budget-reflect-growing-political-deadlock/

[10 YEARS LATER]

Deja`Vu all over again . . . Year 16 . . . . The narrative of very descriptive and not so glowing remarks about these people doesn't even need to be repeated; we know it all by heart.  

[yota691]

The Sunni Endowments Demand Parliament to allocate 478 billion dinars to the budget of 2019

12:39 - 15/01/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - Mawazine News 
The Sunni Endowment Bureau on Tuesday called for the allocation of 478 billion dinars in the budget of 2019 to build mosques and other restoration. 
"The Finance Committee discussed at its meeting today, chaired by MP Ahmad Al-Saffar, the head of the Sunni, the budget of the Sunni Endowment for 2019 and the needs of the Waqf, in the presence of Talib Salem, Director General of the Administrative Department of Waqf "He said. 
The Department pointed out that "Talib Salem made a presentation on the volume of allocations needed by the Waqf, amounting to more than 478 billion dinars for the construction of new mosques and the reconstruction of destroyed mosques, numbering more than a thousand mosques due to terrorist acts and maintenance of 4000 mosques and equipped with furniture and cooling and sound devices and diesel generators and complete projects Suspended and maintenance of religious shrines in Baghdad and the provinces. "
He called on Salem, "according to the statement," the allocation of degrees for the functionaries of the preachers and the mosques, and the addition of amounts on grants and subsidies allocated to stop in projects stalled. " 
The statement added that "the committee discussed the allocations of the National Security Apparatus with Humaid Al-Shatri, the Undersecretary of the National Security Apparatus and Salah Mohsen, Director General of the Administrative and Financial Department of the Authority.

[yota691]

The Finance Committee discussed with the Engineer the increase of financial allocations for the 2019 budget crowd

02:41 - 15/01/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - 
The Finance Committee of the Parliament discussed on Tuesday with the Deputy Chairman of the Popular Awakening Organization, Ob Mahdi Al-Mohandes, to increase the allocations to the Commission in the budget of 2019. 
The Information Service of the House of Representatives, in a statement received / Today, a meeting chaired by MP Ahmed al-Saffar, head of the age with Abu Mahdi, Vice-Chairman of the People's Assembly to discuss the budget of the Authority and increase the financial allocations allocated to the budget in 2019. 
The Chamber pointed out that "the Committee also discussed with the Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed Obeidi budget of the Ministry for 2019."

[Butifldrm]

Parliamentary economic reveal the most significant changes in the budget

11:47 - 15/01/2019

0

 

  

Information / Baghdad ..

A member of the Committee on Economy and Investment Representative Nada Shaker Jawdat, on Tuesday, the most prominent changes that took place on the budget law of 2019, noting that the investment budget increased significantly.

"The changes made to the budget law are very superficial and will not affect the economic reality during the current year," Jawdat said in a statement.

"The foreign debt and its payment is an impediment to increasing investment and operational costs," adding that "Parliament seeks to stabilize all contract employees within the budget."

She added: "The share of the Kurdistan region has maintained what it is as well as the allocation of funds to achieve health projects and development in the country."

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/01/15/382880/

[Butifldrm]

After raising the operational budget .. Where will the government come with funds for the coming years?

19:18 - 14/01/2019

0

 

  

Information / special ... 
confirmed that the Strategic Planning Committee in Parliament, on Monday, that the increase in theoperating budget for staff salaries up to 11 trillion Iraqi dinars obtained result included 65 thousand degrees deleted and the introduction of the federal budget for 2019, as indicated that securing the funds needed to run productive and industrial sector to keep Currency within the country. 
"The increase in the operating budget of the salaries of employees up to 11 trillion dinars was obtained as a result of the inclusion of 65 thousand degrees of functional related to the degrees of deletion and development stalled since 2016 and so far," said the member of the committee Mohammed Al-Baldawi said that "the contract employees in the Ministry of Electricity And lecturers in the Ministry of Education will have priority in the degrees of deletion and development while the other grades will be divided on all the remaining ministries.
He added that "securing those funds included in the current budget during the coming budgets will need to operate the productive and industrial sector to keep funds within the country, which will bring the government to secure all salaries, as well as the currency does not deteriorate against the US dollar." 
The parliamentary Finance Committee has announced, on Monday, the addition of 65 thousand degrees and functional degrees of deletion and development in the budget of 2019, indicating that the priority will be to install contracts.

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/01/14/382740/

[yota691]

KRG salaries to be guaranteed in Iraq budget, not political tool: MPs

By Rudaw 12/1/2019

The Iraqi parliament in session. The legislature has wrapped up discussions on the budget, but passing it will still be a challenged, say Kurdish MPs. Photo: Rudaw

BAGHDAD – Kurdish lawmakers in Baghdad have succeeded in enshrining the payment of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) employees and Peshmerga in the 2019 budget bill. These payments will be protected, even if the Kurdistan Region fails to hand over oil to the Iraqi government.

"We focused on guaranteeing [KRG] employees' payments, and installed in the budget that [salaries] are given to the Kurdistan Region monthly even if there is no political agreement between both sides," Bashir Haddad, deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw.

The budget bill obliges the Iraqi government to pay the salaries of KRG employees, some 521 billion dinar ($437.8 million) monthly, the same way it pays state employees in other parts of Iraq, Haddad added. These payments are not to be a bargaining tool during political disagreements. 

Under the bill, the KRG will have to hand over 250,000 barrels of oil daily to Baghdad.

The parliament wrapped up its discussion on the 2019 draft budget on Thursday. It will convene on Saturday, but the budget is not on the agenda. 

While KRG and Peshmerga salaries have been enshrined in the bill, “passing it will not be easy,” Hoshyar Abdullah, a member of the financial committee, wrote on Facebook. 

The KRG’s failure to hand over oil to Iraq’s state marketing company SOMO has caused upset some lawmakers, he explained. 

Erbil’s independent oil sales are a major sore point in Baghdad, which stopped sending money to the regional government in 2014 over the issue. 

Relations between the two governments have improved with the new administration in Baghdad and there is hope that they can resolve some of their longstanding problems, like the disputed areas claimed by both and defined under Article 140 of the constitution. 

The budget bill dedicates 50 billion Iraqi dinar ($42 million) for reopening Article 140 offices in Kirkuk and Nineveh and an additional 800 billion dinar ($672 million) for implementation of the article.

The section of the constitution dictates that the disputed areas must be resolved via a referendum to determine whether they will remain part of federal Iraq or be absorbed by the Kurdistan Region. It was supposed to have been enacted more than a decade ago, but successive governments have failed to do so. 

The parliament's finance committee is expected to send a delegation to the Kurdistan Region in the near future to discuss these matters and ensure the Region will hand over oil to SOMO.

Kurdish lawmakers are hopeful this is a good sign.

"Revitalization of Article 140 and dedication of the budget signifies a positive policy by the federal government to work on the issue and not let it die,” MP Muthana Amin told Rudaw. 

But he warned not to be complacent, pointing to reported ongoing Arabization in Kirkuk.