KTFA:

Henig:  In the presence of the Minister of Finance. Al-Mandalawi: The people will not excuse anyone if the budget is delayed

2023/05/07 23:52:45

{Political: Euphrates News} Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, chaired on Sunday, a meeting of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, during which it hosted Finance Minister Taif Sami, to discuss the draft federal budget law.

Al-Mandalawi stressed during the meeting, according to a statement by his office, a copy of which was received by {Euphrates News}, "the importance of speeding up the completion of the discussion and maturity of the project, indicating that the Iraqi people in all its spectrums are waiting for the approval of the budget because it is directly related to their lives, and will not excuse anyone in the event of delay."

The First Vice President called for "identifying appropriate measures to overcome the current obstacles and challenges to speed up the approval of the budget, stressing the need to ensure the financial dues of the holders of the degrees for appointment, and to increase the share of governorates to complete lagging and strategic projects.

During the meeting, the sections for the disbursement of the amounts of the Emergency Support Law were clarified, and it was emphasized to provide the Finance Committee with detailed data about it, as well as employee compensation and service supplies, grants and subsidies, social welfare, and internal and external debts. LINK

Henig:  IMO: Oh yeah, ramping up the pressure to git that budget DONE. *gleefully rubs hands together while grinning* And I'm here for it. LOL

Frometad:  Henig...Didn't Sudani give parliament till the 10th to get this done? 

Henig:  IMO If I remember correctly, that sounds about right. I *THINK* Sudani gave them until the 10th to git er done.

Zeeman: yes the GOI was given by the 10th and they start their  vacation on the 9th but will stay on till the budget is passed. this comes from articles last week in the forum IMO…tomorrow is the 9th they are supposed to start their vacation. will they stay on and finish the budget?

Turk182:  As we embark on yet another week of (kicking the can) - let us NOT forget the numerous UB2Bs where Frank has stressed, "who cares" about news articles, this is "done, done, done" - Now we just have to continue playing the "waiting game" until the citizens of Iraq force their Government to either put up or shut up. Talk is cheap, it's now time to see some action.

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Clare:  After discussing it with Romanowski... The Iraqi budget is on Sami's table and the parliamentary finance

5/08/2023

On Monday, the US Ambassador to Baghdad, Elena Romanowsky, revealed the content of her meeting with the Iraqi Finance Minister, Taif Sami.

Romanowski stated, in a tweet seen by Shafaq News Agency, that she "met with the Minister of Finance to follow up the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank that took place in Washington and discuss the status of the Iraqi government's budget in 2023."

 She explained that "the US government supports ways of social spending, investment in infrastructure and long-term economic development to meet the needs of Iraqis."

Yesterday, Sunday, the Ministry of Finance announced that its Minister, Taif Sami, and the US Ambassador to Baghdad, Elena Romanowski, confirmed support for government measures in the field of Iraqi banking reform, in addition to discussing the possibility of establishing long-term investment partnerships by creating stable investment environmental conditions in the Iraqi market.

In a related context, Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, during which it hosted Finance Minister Taif Sami, to discuss the draft federal budget law.

During the meeting, Mandalawi stressed the importance of expediting the completion of the discussion and maturation of the project, indicating that the Iraqi people of all sects are waiting for the approval of the budget because it is directly related to their lives, and will not excuse anyone in the event of delay.

The First Deputy called for determining the appropriate procedures to overcome the current obstacles and challenges to expedite the approval of the budget, stressing the need to guarantee the financial dues of those with special grades for appointment, and to increase the share of the governorates to complete the lagging and strategic projects.

During the meeting, according to the statement, the doors for disbursing the amounts of the Emergency Support Law were clarified, and an emphasis was placed on providing the Finance Committee with detailed data about them. Employee compensation and service requirements, grants and subsidies, social care, and internal and external debts were also discussed.  LINK

Henig:  IMO: And it begins...

IRAQI CITIES WITNESS 4 DEMONSTRATIONS

07 May 2023

Baghdad-ALsharqiya, May 7: Today, Sunday, Baghdad witnessed two demonstrations in the streets, where hundreds of retirees from various provinces demonstrated in the center of the capital, to demand the implementation of the provisions of the retirement law, to increase their salaries in line with the high inflation rate.

The demonstrators stressed the need to implement Article 36 of the Retirement Law of 2014, which stipulates an increase in the salaries of retirees when inflation and prices rise, stressing that their current salaries do not provide them with the most basic necessities of a decent life.

The first graduates also renewed their demonstrations in Baghdad, demanding their inclusion in appointments and their inclusion in the 2023 budget.

The demonstrators confirmed that they would not give up their right to appointment, and that they would continue with daily demonstrations until their demands were met through the amendment of the Employment of Seniors Law No. 67.

A number of employees of the Basra Water Directorate demonstrated, demanding fairness and an amendment to the salary scale.  LINK

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Clare:  Finance Minister to Parliament: We will challenge the budget in {one case}

5/08/2023

 The Parliamentary Finance Committee revealed that the Minister of Finance, Taif Sami, informed the committee that the government will challenge the draft financial budget law "in one case."

Committee member Jamal Cougar said; For the program {Without Accusation} broadcast by Al-Furat TV channel this evening: "The Minister of Finance confirmed during her hosting in the committee that the appeal will be in the event of a reduction in the budget."
He added, "The committee will go either towards a reduction or staying on the existing numbers.

The Ministry of Finance and the government have the right to appeal before the Federal Court constitutionally, and we may go to stretchers instead of a reduction," noting that "we reduced the deficit in the previous budget by approximately 4 trillion, but in this budget we did not reduce it." The deficit so far, and we are checking the allocations of ministries and agencies.

He pointed out, "We are facing the largest budget and the largest deficit for three years, and this calls for extreme caution, because any mistake in it will be repeated for three years."

He continued, "The discussions will not end on May 10, as this date was set by the State Administration Coalition."

Cougar said, "The day of the vote on the budget will be in one parliamentary session," noting that "next Tuesday will be devoted to the discussions of the Finance Committee only, without hosting to discuss the budget items," noting that "activating and consolidating resources and aspects of reduction are among the priorities of the discussion." LINK