By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 19 March 2013:
The GNC is expected to pass the new budget today, Tuesday, according to official spokesman Omar . . .[restrict]Hamaidan, speaking on Libya Al-Hurra TV last night.
The budget, which had originally been set at LD 66 billion, is likely to undergo minor amendments by Congressmen, reducing the planned state expenditure to LD 63 billion, said Hamaidan.
He defended the GNC against accusations that it was responsible for the delay in passing the budget. He would not blame the government either, saying that it was obvious to the public from recent events, that it was the recent security problem with which the GNC had had to deal, that had delayed proceedings.
Hamaidan added there was a small group of GNC members who still wanted to study the budget in more detail. He admitted that a budget would usually need up to three months for detailed discussion, but said the nation did not have time to look into it in fine detail.
The GNC trusted the government, said Hamaidan, but would act as an overseeing body, to ensure that the budget was spent wisely.
The GNC has finally been able to debate the budget after returning to its original chamber in the Rixos Conference Hall. This was only possible once it no longer insisted on making its own security arrangements, instead allowing the Ministry of Interior to provide security. [/restrict]
