Session ends with Speaker Halbousi urging MPs to talk directly with Iraqis
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Mohammed al-Halbousi, the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, announced the end of legislative session on Saturday following passing of 2019 budget bill.
He called on lawmakers to “continue to exercise their supervisory role through their presence in the offices of the parliament in the provinces to communicate with citizens directly and to identify their needs,” read a statement from Halbousi's office on Facebook.
It was the first session of the new parliament that was elected in May 2018.
After months of discussion, Iraq’s contentious budget bill was passed on Wednesday.
It contained measures guaranteeing the payment of Kurdistan Regional Government’s employees and Peshmerga salaries even if the KRG does not hand over the specified 250,000 bpd to Baghdad.
The budget now has to be approved by Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and President Barham Salih.
Still key ministries including justice, defense, and the interior remain unfilled.
With federal funding established, the KRG can more easily form a new cabinet following its parliamentary election on September 30.