The Iraqi government raises the size of the 2024 budget, and Parliament is “surprised” - 3/27/2024

[ronscarpa]

The Iraqi government raises the size of the 2024 budget, and Parliament is “surprised”

PoliticsIraqi GovernmentParliamentary Finance CommitteeBudget 2024

 

2024-03-27 // 05:09

 

Shafaq News / The Parliamentary Finance Committee said on Wednesday that the Iraqi government had increased the size of the 2024 budget, noting that it was “surprised” by the decision.

 

Member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Moeen Al-Kadhimi, explained to Shafaq News Agency, “The Parliamentary Finance Committee hosted the Minister of Planning to discuss amendments, projects, and the reasons for the delay in sending the general budget law to the House of Representatives.”

 

He added, "We in the Parliamentary Finance Committee were surprised that the government raised the total amount of the budget law from 199 trillion dinars to 228 trillion dinars in the 2024 budget," explaining that "this increase is large, while what was spent in 2023 amounted to 142 trillion dinars."

 

He pointed out that "the members of the Finance Committee had the opinion that the budget should be realistic and not just planning."

 

Al-Kadhimi pointed out that “raising the total amount in the budget law caused an increase in the deficit rate,” noting that “the budget is currently still in the corridors of the Council of Ministers and is expected to be sent to the House of Representatives next month.”

https://www.shafaq.com/ar/سیاسة/الحكومة-العراقية-ترفع-حجم-موازنة-2024-والبرلمان-متفاج

[Fimum]

Now you're talking! It's about time the Iraqi government gets with the program and demands at least 15% YOY budget increases! When some rube conservative suggests perhaps only a 12% increase, you get on the TV and scream that they're cutting the budget!! This is how the government rips off the taxpayers and Old Potato Head gets rich!

[NWGUY]

I don't understand how the government can raise the budget without going through parliament?  Maybe it is just a push to get it handled, but again, it doesn't seem like that is something their government can do without approval.