The Yemeni parliament on Tuesday approved a YR 9.676 billion budget for fiscal year 2010, wrapping a long debate over a possible rise in the budget for the new building of Parliament. Reviewing the budget draft, several MPs atacked the rise in the budget, which amounted to over YR 2 billion compared to last year's budget.
According to SABA news agency, the new parliament building will be established for a total cost of YR 24 billion (US$119 million). The MPs have demanded the creation of a special panel to look into the propsed increase. During the debate, MP Mohammed Abdullah al-Qadhi mentioned the propsed rise was illegal as just a maximum rise of 20% is allowed in annual budgets. MPs also claimed that the project was awarded to a public works unit of the Armed Forces without a tender and without timetables for implementation.
Last year, Yemen announced a budget of US$7 billion but later cuts in it by 50% due to the fall of oil prices.
