ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi is set to visit Erbil next Saturday, where he is expected to meet President Masoud Barzani and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to discuss points of dispute between the regional and federal governments, a source told The New Region on Thursday.

A source with knowledge on the matter told The New Region that Zaidi will discuss the Kurdistan Region's federal budgetary allocations, Article 140 of the constitution, the Peshmerga, partnership in governance and representation, and oil with the Kurdish leaders.

The fair distribution of the Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal budget has long been a point of contention between Erbil and Baghdad, despite an agreement reached earlier this year between both governments to ensure the transfer of the Region’s civil servants’ salaries for the entirety of 2025.

Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution mandates a process to outline a clear and definitive boundary in the disputed areas by introducing a referendum to determine the will of the residents living on the lands. The implementation of the article has been continuously delayed by the Iraqi government for two decades.

Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework on Monday officially selected Zaidi for prime minister during a Baghdad meeting after incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki agreed on his nomination.

He was selected at the residence of Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC) chairman Falih al-Fayyadh during a Monday meeting after Sudani and Maliki agreed on the decision.

Kurdish authorities welcomed the new premier, stressing the need for a resolution in the disputes based on the constitution.

During a call on Tuesday where President Barzani congratulated Zaidi, he also “considered Mr. Ali al-Zaidi's appointment as prime minister an opportunity to correct the course of the political process,” according to a statement from Barzani Headquarters.

Zaidi's appointment came following at least seven meetings held by Coordination Framework aimed at naming a candidate for the top post, with the incumbent Sudani saying the businessman was selected to break the political deadlock after a "lack of consensus on choosing a candidate from the proposed names."

The nomination process exceeded the constitutional deadline by a day, marking 16 days since the election of Iraq’s new President Nizar Amedi. The prime minister-designate must now present a cabinet to parliament within 30 days.