Iraq’s federal budget appears to be going nowhere. Having been passed from the cabinet to the Parliamentary Financial Committee, voting has been delayed week after week. MPs have highlighted the KRG’s provisions as the main hurdle.

Despite the Kurds having shown unprecedented cooperation, even sharing oil export and revenues data with legislators, it seems Shia MPs are blocking the vote. Iraq is gearing for parliamentary elections in October and politicians are using every opportunity to campaign early. (CONTINUED - 450 WORDS)