Somalia: Federal parliament rejects 2013 proposed budget 26 Dec 26, 2012 - 8:29:37 PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Dec. 26, 2012 (Garowe Online) - Somalia's federal parliament has voted to reject the 2013 proposed budget presented by the administration of Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, Garowe Online reports.
Federal parliamentarians met Wednesday in Mogadishu, where the MPs debated about the newly proposed budget presented by Somali Finance Minister Mohamud Hassan Suleiman.
Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari announced the vote after the debate, saying that 163 MPs were present on Wednesday’s session.
Speaker Jawari said that 70 MPs rejected the US$103million proposed budget for 2013, while 54 MPs voted in favor of the new budget, and 39 MPs abstained from the vote.
Local sources reported that Somali MPs demanded salary increase for Somali government forces, who are engaged in fighting Al Shabaab militant group aiming to overthrow the country’s federal government.
"Under parliamentary bylaws, the government should present a revised budget within 30 days," said Speaker Jawari.
Today's vote was the first vote by the Somali Federal Parliament rejecting a new motion presented by the country's new government, since the country's new federal parliament and government was established in August 2012.
