Labor, Likud to oppose 2009 budget

Likud says proposed budget is an "irrelevant publicity stunt;" Labor "won't be part of such a budget."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Barak me hungry 224.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Barak me hungry 224.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Both the Labor and Likud factions intend to vote against the 2009 budget, should it be submitted in the next few days for a first Knesset reading, the factions decided at their weekly meetings on Monday. Meretz also announced that it would oppose the budget. Should this happen, the chances of the budget passing before general elections would be very slim. Only 40 MKs - from Kadima and Israel Beteinu - are prepared to vote for the budget in its current form. The country will therefore be run, until April-May 2009, without an authorized budget and will operate on monthly budgets based on the 2008 budget. The Likud said "this is a bad budget, it is irrelevant as it was prepared before the global financial crisis. The passing of the budget on the first reading would demonstrate that it is a public relations stunt void of any practical significance. In any case, the next Knesset will have to finalize the details of the budget." Labor decided Monday afternoon that the proposed budget contradicts its social and economic aims and that it would not "be part of such a budget." Defense Minister and Labor leader Ehud Barak said that public funds in the form of pension and provident funds must be preserved and protected, saying "we must look for ways to help the economy and prevent a credit crunch."