The House of Representatives adopted, Tuesday, April 10th 2012, by majority vote the first part (revenues) of the Finance Bill in respect of the financial year 2012. The first part of the Bill was approved by 138 votes, 36 against and 12 abstentions.
The meeting was characterized by heated debate between the majority and opposition groups on how some amendments are interpreted, including those relating to Article 20 as to additional funding in favor of rural areas.
The opposition groups, which introduced this amendment, argued that the measures that the government intended to take are insufficient to reduce the difficulties the rural populations face, while members of the majority felt that the promotion of rural areas should not be subject to overbidding, especially that the government works in this direction, as they argued.
In his reply to the statements of Parliament`s political groupings and groups, Mr.Nizar BARAKA, Minister of Economy and Finance, noted that the 2012 Finance Bill devoted 20 billion dirhams for the rural world, in order to expand access to basic services and improve the living conditions of rural population.
An amount of 1.53 billion dirhams is also planned as part of the emergency program to assist the agricultural sector and rural areas, in general, and to tackle the effects of drought that characterized the 2011-2012 crop year.
The House of Representatives are to vote today on the 2012 Finance Bill after reviewing and voting on the second part of this Bill which is devoted to expenditures.