ERBIL — Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi signaled of Baghdad’s consent over increasing Erbil’s share from the federal budget for the year of 2019.
Speaking from Erbil after a range of meetings with top Kurdish officials, Halbousi said the previous budget bill, which was prepared by former PM Haider al-Abadi’s cabinet, resulted in other parties’ concerns, therefore the legislative has sent it back for reconsideration by the new government.
“It should be reconsidered, and the share of Kurdistan Region should be increased. For this purpose, a committee, headed by [Iraqi Finance Minister] Dr. Fuad Hussein has been formed to preserve the rights of the Kurdistan Region,” Kurdistan 24 quoted the parliament speaker.
“I would like to say it: we are trying to reach a solution to this problem this year that we are not going to have disagreements over Kurdistan Region’s budget every year.”
Halbousi reiterated his support for Masrour Barzani as he is nominated for the next Kurdistan Region premiership, saying that Barzani has already made “great contributions” in the fields of security and politics in the region.
“We will work together to establish not only relations between central and regional governments, but genuine partnership between us.”