MPs endorse 2023 state budget bill: Jordan

MPs endorse 2023 state budget bill: Jordan

The Lower House on Wednesday endorsed the 2023 state budget bill.

During a session chaired by Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi, in the presence of Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and Cabinet members, 86 out of 107 attending lawmakers approved the bill. The Chamber voted in favour of the recommendations of the House's Finance Committee regarding the draft law.

MPs discussed the bill in six sessions over three days, where 90 lawmakers out of a total of 130 took the podium, including six political blocs, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The deputies criticised the budget's reliance on taxes, aid and loans, stressing the need to look for solutions to address the economic crisis facing the Kingdom in a bid to alleviate the economic hardships of citizens in light of high unemployment and poverty rates.

Following the deliberations, Khasawneh expressed appreciation to the Finance Committee and MPs for their "valuable" remarks, stressing that the government will fulfill any ideas are possible without slowdown. Yet, the government cannot promise what it cannot honour, the premier said.

The PM said that this government has never pledged anything that it cannot materialise, and will continue to adopt this approach of credibility and honesty.

Replying to MPs' remarks on the bill,