Committee Approves $25 Million Budget for National Assembly

The CPP-controlled Permanent Committee of the new National Assembly has approved a $25-million budget to cover the Assembly’s costs for the coming year, despite the continued absence of nearly half the 123-member body’s elected lawmakers. The opposition CNRP’s 55 lawmakers-elect have been boycotting the Assembly since its opening session on September 23 to protest the national election in July, which it claims the CPP stole through fraud. The CNRP considers the present Assembly unconstitutional and is lobbying Cambodia’s donors to suspend ties with the new government until the election dispute is settled. ... Last year, the Assembly approved a 2013 budget of $3.1 billion, approximately $500 million more than the budget for 2012. CNRP lawmaker-elect Yem Ponhearith criticized Wednesday’s vote by the Permanent Committee for lacking transparency and said it should have tried reducing the Assembly’s spending on itself, particularly on things like transportation and accommodation during trips. ..

 Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/committee-approves-25-million-budget-for-national-assembly-45434/