MPs level criticism, praise at gov't on second day of budget discussions

AMMAN — MPs on Monday continued their deliberations over the draft 2015 budget law and the budget bill for independent public institutions, again casting doubt on the figures provided, raising demands for their regions and suggesting solutions for energy woes.

Around 60 MPs out of 150 took the podium during Monday’s morning and afternoon sessions, with their remarks primarily being centred around criticising the budget and the government’s economic policies in general.

This year’s JD8.09 billion budget, referred to the Lower House in November 2014, features a slight expansion of 3.2 per cent in spending and an estimated deficit of JD688 million. 

However, some deputies described this year’s budget, as “convincing”, praising the government’s “exceptional” capabilities to prevent the occurrence of unrest that swept many Arab states.

Implementing development and infrastructure projects in remote regions was a recurrent demand by many MPs, who called on the government to direct investments to their underprivileged districts to decrease unemployment and poverty.

The Kingdom’s energy dilemma was another major issue, with deputies either criticising the government’s policies or suggesting solutions to reduce the high energy bill.

Several MPs also stressed the importance of supporting the army and other security bodies, citing the formidable security challenges facing the region.

Deputy Abdul Rahim Biqaai (Amman, 3rd District) criticised the budget, describing it as “conventional” and similar to previous years’ budgets, thus lacking economic programmes to address the new developments and challenges. 

The same view was expressed by MP Najah Azzeh (Jerash), who criticised the lack of “flexibility” and “spontaneity” in the budget to respond to developments and build a resilient economy.

MP Nayef Leimoun (Karak, 6th District) said the size of capital spending in the draft budget does not reflect any development goals towards creating jobs and lowering unemployment and poverty rates.

Stressing the need to eradicate corruption, deputies Deifallah Bani Khaled (Northern Badia) and Ali Zanazneh (Dignity list) called for implementing development projects in the governorates and underprivileged areas.

Deputies Insaf Khawaldeh (Tafileh) and Mifleh Esheibat (Karak, 4th District) demanded that development and infrastructure projects be implemented in their regions, citing the high unemployment and poverty rates in Tafileh and Southern Ghor. 

MP Atef Qaawar (Amman, 3rd District) claimed that the government has “failed” and cancelled many renewable energy projects that Arab and foreign investors offered to implement, calling for placing the issue of green energy as a top government priority.

Veteran MP Abdul Hadi Majali (National Current Party) said consecutive governments’ uncurbed borrowing has led to the current unprecedented levels of public debt, amounting to JD22 billion, arguing that the continuation of this “trend” will have “horrible” consequences on the country’s economic security.

Majali also called on the government to withdraw the draft budget law to be re-estimated according to the sharp decline in international oil prices.  

This year’s budget has been based on the assumption that the price of oil would hover around $100 per barrel.

MPs Mohsen Rjoub (Irbid, 2nd District) and Yousef Abu Huweidi (Zarqa, 1st District) expressed satisfaction with the 2015 budget law, commending what they described as the “government’s exceptional and outstanding” abilities to protect the Kingdom from the unrest and instability that have swept many Arab states. 

The House is scheduled to continue its deliberations over the budget bill on Tuesday, with the voting on the keystone draft law expected to be held on Wednesday.