Baghdad : Fears of delay parliamentary adoption of the budget

Baghdad : Fears of delay parliamentary adoption of the budget

BAGHDAD - Hussein Ali Dawood

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Delayed by the Iraqi government to send a bill the federal budget for the year 2014, amid fears of a faltering approval to coincide with parliamentary elections , while a media adviser to Prime Minister Ali al-Moussawi said the delay was « to put the budget without mistakes .

Parliament called on the government since last summer to send the draft budget to him in September , under the Financial Administration Act , but the government did not comply with the timing .

And a member of the Finance Committee criticized the MP Hussein Alwan delay in sending the bill so far, and said that «the approval will be delayed to their need to further discussion .

Alwan said in a statement to « life» that « the annual budget for the past years used to take months before approval in parliament, and the next budget will be different from its predecessors , likely to be « the approval process difficult to coincide with parliamentary elections approaching .

It is scheduled to hold elections on 30 April next year, after parliament has succeeded in approving the law last week .

Alwan pointed out that there are « fears of the use of budget funds in the elections , there are also fears that reflected political remarks on the budget on the electoral propaganda .

Moreover, criticized the decision of the parliament , deputy Mohammed al-Khalidi also the government not to send the draft budget, and told « life» that Parliament will resume its sessions in the 17 month « In case the government sent before that date Parliament will decide to extend the legislative term until approval .

For his part, media adviser to Prime Minister Ali al - Moussawi told «life » that « a small committee under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in the process of formulating the draft budget and amend some paragraphs based on the observations of experts, to send to Parliament».

He added that « Budget 2014 focused on the support of the poor and the issues of housing , construction and investment more than its predecessors budgets , and pointed out that« the budget include the promotion of investment in the country side . And will eliminate many aspects of drainage matters such as luxury cars , furniture and property .

He pointed out that « mini-committee is still looking at the amendments and there is no timetable for their conclusion , it depends on the completion of the notes and then will be presented to the Cabinet for discussion and approval and then be transferred to the Parliament».

For its part, said another member of the Finance Committee MP Ashwaq dry that the budget next year will be the « exceptional in terms of the size and the gates of disbursement of funds , but pointed out that « will be worth almost 147 billion dollars .

He confirmed that « there is a tendency among all the political blocs to formulate a draft budget that meets the demands of the Iraqis in terms of services and construction and reconstruction » , noting that « the investment side will have a significant role in the budget .

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] 

So they need to get the budget over there before the 17th, so the parliment can work it up and pass it before ending the legislation sesson.
Thanks
LIT