DILI, 20 december 2023 (TATOLI) – On wednesday, the National Parliament approved the General State Budget (GSB) for 2024 in its final global, totaling US$1.95 billion for the Central Administration, the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) and Social Security, without the Social Security Reserve Fund. This figure includes an allocation of US$1.83 billion for the Central Administration and US$60 million for the RAEOA.
The GSB proposal was approved with 41 votes in favor, 23 against, and zero abstentions.
“Committee C, which deals with public finance affairs, will proceed with the final drafting, then send it to the National Parliament’s table so that it can be submitted to the President of the Republic for promulgation or veto,” said the President of the PN, Maria Fernanda Lay.
In this regard, the Vice-President of the KHUNTO bench, António Verdial, praised the Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, and the government for defending relevant funds in the ministries’ budgets and for considering the well-being of the people a priority.
Patrocínio Fernandes, a member of the CNRT benches, thanked KHUNTO, one of the opposition parties, for voting in favor of the GSB 2024 proposal. Regarding the votes against by FRETILIN and PLP benches, he said that these only show that: “The country has a strong opposition that will contribute to controlling the implementation of the state budget.”
Mari Alkatiri, who resumed his position on wednesday as a member of the FRETILIN benches, said that his bench voted against the State Budget because it considered that: “The government has not identified the measures or indicators needed to accelerate the country’s development.”
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
