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Tishwash:
The reason for postponing the vote on the cabinet today has been revealed.
Former MP Abdul Hadi Al-Saadawi revealed on Sunday the reasons for postponing the vote on the cabinet in the House of Representatives, attributing this to the failure of some political blocs to decide on their candidates for ministerial portfolios, which led to the inability to vote on the government formation today.
Al-Saadawi told Al-Furat News Agency, “It was likely that the Al-Zidi government would be given confidence today in the House of Representatives after all preparations were completed; however, the vote was postponed as a result of some political blocs not deciding on their candidates for the ministries.”
He added that “it is too early to announce the completion of the cabinet due to the existence of disagreements between the political blocs,” indicating that “the absence of a fully empowered government is having a negative impact on the country.”
Al-Saadawi pointed out that “there are major obstacles facing the prime minister-designate, even from within the coordination framework and the rest of the national space, which requires more consultation and effort to convince the blocs to proceed with presenting the cabinet and voting on it within the House of Representatives.”
He pointed out that “Al-Zidi has a strong incentive to complete his cabinet through consultation and understanding with various political forces.”
Regarding the challenges facing the new government, Al-Saadawi explained that “the first of these is the financial file,” expecting “its move towards raising the exchange rate of the dinar to reduce the deficit in the 2026 budget,” considering “this a difficult decision in addition to the security challenges in the region, especially the American-Iranian war and the repercussions it imposes on the country.”
He concluded by saying that “the next government needs a clear economic and security vision to keep Iraq away from the region’s conflicts.” (LINK)
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The Securities Commission grants the first license to a foreign brokerage firm to operate in Iraq.
On Sunday, the Securities Authority announced that it had granted official approval to a foreign brokerage firm to operate in the securities markets, making it the first company to receive this approval in accordance with the modern regulatory procedures adopted by the Authority.
The commission confirmed in a statement that this step comes within its ongoing efforts to regulate and develop the work environment in the Iraqi financial market and enhance transparency and efficiency in line with best international practices, and in a way that contributes to supporting investment, stimulating trading activity and attracting global expertise to the market.
She explained that the approval was granted after the company completed all the technical and regulatory requirements, ensuring the integrity of the procedures and protecting the rights of investors, as well as raising the level of institutional performance of brokerage companies operating in the market.
The statement affirmed that this approval is an important indicator of the Authority’s direction towards opening new horizons for brokerage companies, especially foreign ones, and encouraging the entry of new companies that contribute to the development of the Iraqi capital market and enhance investor confidence in it, which represents one of the Authority’s main objectives in regulating, protecting and developing the market. (LINK)
Mounting financial pressures threaten the 2026 budget.
The government faces an early challenge in preparing the 2026 budget, amid declining oil revenues and escalating financial pressures, which puts it in front of limited options between presenting an austerity budget or temporarily continuing spending according to the 1/12 rule. Meanwhile, economic experts and specialists believe that the 2026 budget will face major financial challenges due to declining revenues, which may push it to reduce spending or postpone its approval.
Budget preparation
Nermin Maarouf, a member of the Finance Committee in the previous parliamentary session, confirmed in an interview with Al-Sabah that the government, if formed soon, still has time to submit the draft budget law, noting that its approval in previous years was often delayed until May or June.
She added that the preparation of the budget in Iraq traditionally relies on simple items based on the allocations of the previous year, but she pointed out that there is no legal basis that allows for continued spending according to the (1/12) rule for two consecutive years in the absence of a budget.
Compound impact
For his part, crisis management expert Ali Al-Fariji believes that the 2026 budget is no longer just a matter of timing, but a test of the state’s ability to deal with a “compound shock” that includes a decline in oil revenues and export disruptions as a result of regional tensions, in addition to the continued rise in operational spending within an economy that is almost entirely dependent on oil.
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Al-Fariji explained in an interview with “Al-Sabah” that preparing a budget in the near term seems unlikely, due to the absence of stable assumptions related to oil prices and export levels, which suggests that the (1/12) rule will continue to be used temporarily until the financial vision becomes clear.
Dependence on oil
He added that the main challenges are structural in nature, most notably the dependence of revenues on oil by nearly 90%, the high operating expenses which account for more than 70% of total spending, as well as cash pressures and weak efficiency of investment spending.
Oil revenues
In the same context, economist Jalil Al-Lami confirmed in an interview with Al-Sabah that the option of submitting a full federal budget seems difficult in the short term, suggesting that the (1/12) rule will continue to be used temporarily, especially with the clear decline in oil revenues.
Al-Lami pointed out that Iraq used to rely on oil exports of around 3.5 million barrels per day with monthly revenues ranging between 7 and 9 billion dollars, before they decreased to about 2 billion dollars or less at some times, while the country needs at least 8 to 10 billion dollars per month to cover operating expenses, creating a financial gap that may reach 6 billion dollars per month.
Austerity budget
Al-Lami predicted that if the budget is prepared, it will be an austerity budget, based on an oil price between $60 and $65 per barrel, with a total size between 130 and 150 trillion dinars, and an expected deficit between 20 and 30 trillion dinars, which is subject to increase depending on
Regarding developments in the oil market.
He added that the anticipated budget will not include an expansion in appointments or the launch of new projects, but will focus on completing existing projects and securing basic expenditures, with the possibility of resorting to internal borrowing or drawing from the cash reserve in the event that the crisis continues.
Temporary disbursement
He pointed out that “estimates indicate that the 2026 budget will either be a deferred budget managed through temporary spending, or an austerity budget focused on containing the crisis, at a time when the Iraqi economy is facing a real test to readjust the spending model and avoid slipping.”
Towards a liquidity crisis in the near term.
The parliamentary finance committee expressed its position on borrowing from the central bank to finance domestic expenditures, noting that this issue is linked to the formation of the government.
Borrowing proposal
Committee member Ribwar Karim told the Iraqi News Agency, as reported by Al-Sabah newspaper, that “the proposal to borrow from the Central Bank to finance domestic expenditures is on hold.”
On forming the government.
He added that “there is a conviction among the political parties and blocs that there are serious attempts to appoint the next prime minister As soon as possible.
He explained that “if a government is formed, there will be no need to borrow, as a fully empowered government will begin its duties,” noting that “borrowing from the Central Bank is merely an opinion put forward by some members of parliament.”
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He stated that “this proposal is primarily linked to the formation of the government, and if that happens, there will be no need for this proposal.” (LINK)
An Iraqi committee is exploring mechanisms for disarming factions amid escalating US pressure.
The Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, quoting Iraqi political sources, revealed the formation of a high-level Iraqi committee tasked with preparing an executive project for disarming armed factions, in preparation for presenting it to American officials in the coming days, amid escalating American pressure on Baghdad regarding the issue of weapons and Iranian influence within Iraq.
According to the sources, the committee held unannounced meetings during the past period with leaders of armed factions to discuss mechanisms for disarmament and reintegration of some elements into the civilian and security state institutions, but some of those meetings witnessed tension and objections from parties that refuse to give up their weapons.
The information indicated that the committee is operating under a mandate from forces within the coordination framework, at a time when political warnings are increasing that the anticipated government headed by Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh Kazem al-Zaidi may face major challenges in implementing reforms related to the issue of weapons and financial resources, which Washington accuses some Iraqi parties of smuggling to Iran.
According to the report, the US administration has shown support for al-Zaidi since his appointment, but it links the continuation of this support to making tangible changes related to reducing the influence of armed factions within Iraqi state institutions.
The newspaper also quoted officials and political sources as saying that the proposed project includes the disarmament of heavy and medium weapons and the restructuring of some formations of the Popular Mobilization Forces, amid doubts about the ability of the next government to actually implement these steps, with the likelihood that some of the current moves are an attempt to absorb American pressure and buy time.
In contrast, sources representing a number of armed factions confirmed their refusal to hand over weapons, believing that American pressure would not push them to back down from their positions or change the existing power equations.
In parallel, an informed source revealed an agreement between forces within the coordination framework and the prime minister-designate to form a special committee to restrict weapons to the state, which includes, in addition to al-Zaydi, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and the head of the Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri.
The source explained that the committee will develop practical mechanisms to regulate the weapons file and reintegrate some elements of the factions into civilian or security institutions, in line with the requirements of the current stage and the political and security challenges facing the country. (LINK)
Source: Dinar Recaps
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