Sudan parliament inches closer to approving 2012 budget

December 18, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese national assembly approved the 2012 budget plan in its third reading amid stiff opposition by some lawmakers who insisted on incorporating additional amendments.

Sudan has lost 75% of its oil reserves with the south’s official secession last July and as a result the government has been seeking to cut spending and lift subsidies particularly on petroleum products.

But the Sudanese parliament voted down the proposal by the government to end fuel subsidies which amounted to 1.5 pounds per gallon.

Instead lawmakers called for reducing salaries and perks to officials in the government but this was excluded from the 2012 budget bill drawing criticism from lawmakers.

MP Awatif al-Ga’ali has proposed that the vote be delayed until the law on compensation of government officials is changed but her demand was brushed aside by speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir.

Another MP by the name of Mahdi Eckert described today’s vote as “comedy” and claimed that most of his peers were not convinced by what they did today.

Eckert said that in the last eight sessions they have attempted to amend the compensation law for government officials with no success.

“The recovery of the economy will not happen except through cutting government spending and that will not be curtailed except by amending the constitutional [officials] compensations and privileges” he said.

Legislator Aisha al-Ghabshawi slammed the government and warned that people may end up taking the streets despite official statements to the contrary.

“If the spark of anger is ignited then all of Sudan will catch fire and not just Khartoum and security will not be maintained except through satisfying the people” al-Ghabshawi said.

But the parliament speaker responded saying they fear no one but god.

“We are afraid of no one but God. If our presence here is out of fearing people then we might as well walk out….We are here to do the right thing that satisfies god even if it angered the people” al-Tahir said.

The new budget did not include any increases in customs or taxes or service fees on basic goods. It was passed by 150 votes in favor, 34 against and 11 abstentions.

(ST)