The President of the National Council had strong words of criticism for the Government on Wednesday evening when the elected body discussed the 2021 budget, illustrating the fact that constitutional wrangles continue as the Council asserts its rights.
Stéphane Valeri said that the Monegasque constitution provides that the National Council should have all the information available about incomes and expenditures, and not later discover that substantial sums have not been included.
He said that the Council will amend the bill brought to it by the Government, profoundly, in order to ensure that basic decisions are taken in consultation between the two institutions.
Mr Valeri said that while the Government had initially projected a deficit of 8.8 million euros, the result was a surplus of 138 million. He said that certain spending decisions were then undertaken unilaterally by the Government, without consulting the National Council, that ended with a surplus of just eight million euros.
PHOTO: President of the National Council Stéphane Valeri, centre, with Minister of State Pierre Dartout, left, and Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, right.