Rabie Abdul Jalil, a member of the Parliamentary Oil, Gas, and Natural Resources Committee, said on Tuesday that the Kurdistan Region’s demand for 14% of Iraq’s general budget cannot be met. He stressed that the federal government will follow the 12% share officially set by the Ministry of Planning.
Abdul Jalil told dinaropinions.com that raising the region’s budget share to 14% is not possible. He said the government is committed to using the percentages established through surveys and data approved by the Ministry of Planning, which set the region’s share at 12%.
He added that any attempt to raise the demand in Parliament would face strong opposition from most political blocs and representatives from other governorates.
According to Abdul Jalil, the government has a legal and moral responsibility to maintain the 12% allocation. He said federal budget funds should be distributed fairly, based on population size and levels of deprivation, without giving in to pressure or demands that fall outside the official planning framework.