The government will propose for an additional sitting of the Parliament to be held in May or June next year.
Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, during meet the press session June 23 said if approved, the session will deliberate to finalise the 12th Five Year Plan and allocate budget for the first fiscal year 2018-2019 of the 12th Plan period.
However, the Prime Minister said it is up to the parliamentarians and the speaker whether to have an additional session of the Parliament or not.
“We want to ensure that the next government whoever it may be will have good plan to consider and will have the resources that have been already mobilised,” said Lyonchhen while meeting with the journalists.
The Prime Minister added, although the new government will take over only in around October or November, they can actually hit the ground running. “They don’t have to worry about the plan and resources,” he said. “It is our responsibility to pass the budget for the first year of the plan.”
However, Dasho Tshering Tobgay said it is up to the next government to implement or change the budget allocated for that first fiscal year of the 12th Plan.
As per the constitution, if the budget is not approved by the National Assembly before the beginning of the fiscal year, the preceding budget on current expenses shall be applied until the new one is sanctioned. Revenues shall be collected and disbursements made in accordance with the law in force at the end of the preceding year. However, if one or more parts of the new budget have been approved, they shall be put into effect.
The current government will dissolve in August 2018.
