KRG Prime Minister Expresses Concern Over Zero Payments From Baghdad, Citing Erosion of Trust and Violation of Iraqi Constitution
Erbil, Kurdistan Region – In a Twitter post that has caught the attention of both regional and international observers, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, expressed deep concern over the complete lack of payments from Baghdad to the Kurdistan Region for the months of July, August, and September. Accompanied by a stark chart displaying "zero" Iraqi dinars received for these crucial months, the Prime Minister emphasized that this absence of funds not only hurts the citizens of the Kurdistan Region but also raises concerns about the erosion of trust and the blatant violation of the Iraqi Constitution.
The chart shared by Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, clearly illustrates the absence of financial allocations from the Iraqi federal government to the Kurdistan Region for the past three months. According to the chart, the Kurdistan Region is owed a substantial sum of 1.375 trillion Iraqi dinars, representing its rightful share in the Iraqi budget for this period.
This financial shortfall has raised serious concerns within the Kurdistan Region, where the local economy heavily relies on these allocations from Baghdad to fund essential public services, infrastructure projects, and the salaries of public servants. The lack of payment threatens to disrupt these vital services and negatively impact the well-being of the Region's citizens.
Zero payments from Baghdad hurt our citizens, erode trust, and blatantly violate the Iraqi Constitution. pic.twitter.com/3IPuB3Xx0x
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) September 7, 2023
In his Twitter post, Prime Minister stressed that this non-payment by the Iraqi federal government is not only a financial issue but also a breach of the Iraqi Constitution, which mandates the allocation of a fair share of the national budget to the Kurdistan Region. This constitutional violation raises questions about the commitment to federalism and the proper functioning of Iraq's decentralized governance system.
The Prime Minister's statement has sparked a strong reaction from the public and political circles within the Kurdistan Region, with many expressing their frustration over the ongoing financial disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. The Kurdistan Regional Government has long asserted its constitutional right to a fair share of the national budget to ensure the Region's stability and development.
As the Kurdistan Region faces mounting financial challenges due to the absence of these funds, the international community will likely be closely monitoring the situation and may intervene to mediate the ongoing disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government in Baghdad. The timely resolution of this issue is crucial to prevent further economic hardship for the Region's citizens and to uphold the principles of federalism and constitutional rights in Iraq.
