Politics

Political disunity clouds KRG fiscal and energy outlooks

Deadlocked talks over forming a new regional Cabinet highlight a bitter rivalry between two ruling parties that poses risks to Kurdistan's economy and energy sector.

PUK President Bafel Talabni (left) meets with KDP President Massoud Barzani (right) on Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo credit: KDP presidency office)

Jan 27, 2015

Parliament trims budget ahead of vote

The Finance Committee has cut Iraq's overall budget to $95 billion and shifted money from the Ministry of Defense to Shia militias and refugees.

Jan 20, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 20, 2015

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jan 15, 2015

Q&A: Ahmad Chalabi

The head of the Parliament Finance Committee talks about priorities for cutting costs while being able to pay for defense, refugees and IOCs.

Jan 13, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 13, 2015

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jan 8, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 7, 2015

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Jan 8, 2015

Budget debates focus on revenue worries

Iraq’s Parliament is reading the draft budget for a second time, paving the way toward a vote, but as oil prices fall below $50, the numbers don’t add up.

Jan 1, 2015

Analysis: 5 key takeaways from Iraq’s 2015 draft budget

PM Abadi's draft budget seeks to balance the competing interests of a fractured polity while contending with a devastating drop in oil prices and a crippling legacy of fiscal mismanagement.

Dec 30, 2014

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Dec. 30, 2014

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers publishes decisions of the Cabinet, Beyond the Headlines features a translation from the original Arabic.

Dec 24, 2014

Budget including deficit, KRG deal sent to Parliament

Budget bill anticipates reduced revenue and big deficits, and incorporates an oil and revenue-sharing deal with Kurdistan.

Dec 24, 2014

Iraqi oil experts weigh in on KRG-Baghdad deal

A collection of Iraqi oil experts outside of government have sent an open letter to the Iraqi Parliament, just as it takes up a draft budget that incorporates the Dec. 2 deal between Baghdad and Erbil.