Majlis passes MRF 15.3 billion as 2013 state budget

The Peoples’ Majlis reduced the proposed projected state budget for 2013 from MRF 16.9 billion to MRF 15.3 billion and has passed it yesterday at the state budget of 2013.

The MRF 15.3 billion budget was passed with 41 MPs out of the 69 MPs present at yesterday’s sitting of the Majlis voting in favour of it. 28 MPs voted against it. MPs of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) all voted against the projected budget.

The budget was passed yesterday after it was revised twice in the Majlis.

Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad first submitted to Majlis a projected state budget of MVR 16.97 billion. The Budget Committee of the Peoples’ Majlis after reviewing the projected budget for 2013 based on the budget proposal by the Minister of Finance and Treasury,  proposed the budget to be equal to MRF 15.3 billion, which was passed with a majority vote.

Ministry of Finance recommended the Majlis committee to omit one million from the proposed budget. The vote was called on after the committee discussed with the officials of the Ministry regarding the budget allocated to Public Sector Investment Programs (PSIP).

Each political party also presented respective proposals on intended additions to the budget allocated to Public Sector Investment Programs (PSIP). With the consensus of the 20 members present in the Budget Committee meeting MRF349 million was added to the budget allocated for PSIP.