Kurdish Delegation in Baghdad ahead of Budget Vote

A Kurdish delegation, headed by Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, arrived in Baghdad two days ahead of a decisive parliamentary vote to pass Iraq’s federal budget for 2021.

The delegation has launched a series of last-minute meetings and deliberations with Iraqi political blocs regarding the Kurdistan region’s share in the bill drafted by parliament’s financial committee.

While some lawmakers are calling to pass the budget with a majority vote in the absence of the Kurds, other political parties are urging for consensus.

More so, the United Nations is attempting to help bridge the gap between Baghdad and Erbil.

Iraqi President Barham Salih, for his part, placed emphasis on the importance of sharing the federal budget for 2021, and stressed the need to ensure the rights of all citizens, and people’s interest.

Salih, in an effort to find a radical solution for unresolved issues between the KRG and the federal government, met with the Kurdish delegation led by Talabani and members of the financial committee.

The committee scheduled the vote on the draft budget for this Thursday.

“There are new visions that are expected to be presented during the meetings that are taking place now between the Kurdish delegation and the parties concerned with the matter,” Patriotic Union of Kurdistan lawmaker Rebwar Karim told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“An agreement will soon be reached between the two parties,” he predicted.

Financial committee member Jamal Kougar confirmed that the parliamentary body was now working on checking the budget numbers.

“In the event that the Kurdish delegation reaches an agreement with Shiite blocs, this Thursday will be the date for the vote on the budget bill,” he added.

Another member of the committee, Mohammed Ibrahim, hoped that Baghdad and Erbil would reach an agreement within the constitutional and legal frameworks.

“Officials in Kurdistan are afraid of not reaching an agreement with Baghdad, and for the 2021 draft budget law being passed with the majority without the participation of the Kurds,” Ibrahim said in a statement.