Iraq’s parliament is set to vote on the federal budget soon, focusing on financial stability without new jobs or wage increases. The PMF law will be revisited soon amidst negotiations within the Shiite Coordination Framework. Al-Hilali confirms parliament cannot dissolve before January 2026, despite ongoing session delays.
Iraq’s parliament is on the verge of voting on the federal budget tables as the government prepares to submit them shortly. Lawmaker Ibtisam Al-Hilali stated that there will be no new public sector appointments or wage increases included in the budget, which supports a three-year financial planning strategy. The parliament aims to expedite the voting process upon receipt to prevent any impacts on ministries and related financial matters.
Finance Minister Taif Sami is under pressure to finalize the budget, which, if delayed, would lead to government spending continuing at a rate of 1/12 of the previous year’s budget. Al-Hilali highlighted that the minister has confirmed the tables’ submission to the Prime Minister. She also noted that 150,000 contract positions have already been issued for the provinces, mitigating concerns over potential election-related employment promises.
Another item on the agenda is the reintroduction of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Service and Retirement law after its removal last week. This will be discussed in the next parliamentary session expected next week. Additionally, there’s ongoing negotiation among the Shiite Coordination Framework regarding amendments to the PMF law, aimed at reducing political tensions and ensuring smoother legislative processes.
Despite calls for the dissolution of parliament due to ongoing delays in sessions, Al-Hilali firmly stated that parliament cannot unilaterally dissolve itself, with its current term set to end on January 10, 2026. There are still unanswered questions regarding whether the budget tables have officially been forwarded from the Ministry of Finance to the Council of Ministers, as there has been no confirmation of the transfer yet.
Iraq’s parliament is preparing to vote on the federal budget, emphasizing no new public sector appointments or wage increases. The Finance Minister is under pressure to finalize budget tables, amid concerns regarding election-related promises. Additionally, the PMF law may be reintroduced in upcoming sessions, while the call for parliamentary dissolution remains unheeded as the current term continues until January 2026. Uncertainty persists over the budget table’s submission status to the Council of Ministers.
Original Source: shafaq.com
