Iraq’s parliament challenges court ruling with new appeal for money
▶ Budget delayed by arguments over formation of country’s government
Iraq’s parliament was due to resubmit a bill yesterday allowing the government to seek 27 trillion Iraqi dinars ($18.5 billion) for urgent needs, in contravention of a ruling by the country’s top court.
In March, the caretaker government of Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi submitted the draft to the legislative body to meet various departments’ mounting demands for cash.
Approval of this year’s budget has been shelved amid a political deadlock.
On Sunday, the Federal Supreme Court ruled the caretaker government had no authority to create legislation and present it to the parliament, or to strike agreements that could influence Iraq’s future.
A revised version of the bill was due to be presented yesterday by the legislative body’s Finance Committee.
It is supported by the signatures of 50 politicians, deputy parliament speaker Hakim Al Zamili said on Tuesday.
The Iraqi constitution sets out ways in which legislation can be presented to parliament. Bills can be proposed by the Cabinet of an existing government, or by the president, at least 10 politicians or any of the parliamentary committees.
“This bill is for the citizens,” Mr Al Zamili said.
“It will cover the social protection scheme, buying wheat from farmers and allow the electricity ministry to continue importing natural gas and paying for debts.”
The bill could gain approval today, he said.
The revised version of the bill seeks to allocate 8tn dinars to the trade ministry to buy wheat from local farmers and international suppliers and to keep the government-run food ration programme going.
It also sets aside 10tn dinars to develop projects in the country, as well as 3tn dinars with which the electricity ministry could buy gas from Iran to run Iraq’s power turbines.
On Monday, the government issued a warning that without this law, its ability to manage utilities and provide other vital services such as the construction of schools would be compromised. The delay of
this year’s budget has limited the monthly spending to about 8 per cent of the 2021 budget of 130tn dinars.
The convening of parliament was delayed until January in response to allegations of fraud
in the October general election. Rival power blocs are still in a stand-off over the distribution of government posts.
The main obstacle to the new government’s formation is enmity between Shiite populist
cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and some of his Iran-backed Shiite rivals.
Mr Al Sadr’s Sadrist Bloc emerged as the clear winner in October, with 73 seats in the 329-seat parliament.