Baghdad: Finance Minister Taif Sami has attributed the delay in sending the budget tables to fluctuating oil prices and unresolved disputes with the Kurdistan Region, which she considers major obstacles to financing the federal budget.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Finance Committee issued a statement detailing that Minister Sami reviewed the country’s financial situation during her visit to the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives. She provided a comprehensive presentation covering government revenues, expenditures, and financing tables for the years 2023-2025. The presentation also included plans to reform the banking system, update tax and customs policies, and address domestic and foreign borrowing concerns.

Minister Sami explained that the delay in sending the budget tables is primarily due to two factors: fluctuating oil prices and ongoing disputes with the Kurdistan Region. She emphasized that these issues significantly hinder the federal budget’s financing. Sami further noted that preparing budget schedules is futile while the region fails to meet its financial obligations, compounded by the impact of oil price volatility and accumulated debts on the federal government’s financial capacity.