Parliamentary Finance Committee: Employee Salaries Secured, 2027 Budget Deficit Estimated at 65 Trillion Dinars

A member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Ikhlas Al-Dulaimi, announced the committee's preparations for discussing the general budget draft, anticipating the 2027 budget proposal to reach the Council of Representatives on October 15th. Al-Dulaimi clarified, in a statement to the official newspaper, that the Finance Committee will play a pivotal role in studying the budget, organizing its clauses, and discussing it, leading to its vote within the Council of Representatives. She indicated that the projected budget deficit could reach approximately 65 trillion Iraqi dinars. She added that the committee would address, as part of deficit treatments, the exchange rate file and proposed measures from the Ministry of Finance, affirming that the Ministry has treatments that the committee will review upon the budget draft's arrival. Regarding public spending, Al-Dulaimi confirmed that employee salaries are secured, noting an increase in oil export volumes, which have reached about 3 to 4 million barrels per day. She also pointed out that the Central Bank's reserves contribute to supporting financial stability.