Provincial powers law challenge ended, new one begins

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi followed through on a promise to end the legal challenge, started by his predecessor, to the 2013 amendments of the Provincial Powers Law, but initiated a review that could make further changes.

The legislation, officially known as Law No. 21 of 2008, devolved certain powers from the central government to local authorities, but also included a provision that would have mandated billions of dollars of the budget be sent to oil and gas producing provinces, regardless of financial crisis or outstanding budgetary policy.