All of Monaco’s elected representatives abstained on the vote to pass the amended 2023 Budget at the end of a heated debate in the National Council on Wednesday night, except one.
In a move intended to avoid a serious constitutional impasse, Council President Brigitte Boccone-Pages cast her own vote in favour, allowing the Budget to be approved 1-0, with 22 abstentions.
The issue that most riled the National Councillors was the Government’s plans for a Fontvieille-Lite, rather than the more ambitious plans for a total redevelopment of the Fontvieille Commercial Centre.
Apart from a demand for 100 new homes for Monegasques, the National Council is insisting on a detailed place for “emergency solutions” to the problem of road congestion in the Principality in the immediate future.
There was a follow-up stern warning: “Only the tabling of a new initial budget bill for 2024 responding to the legitimate expectations and needs of Monegasques, residents and economic stakeholders in the Principality will allow a favourable vote to be considered during the debates that will be held next December,” the Council said in a press release on Thursday, October 19.
FILE PHOTO: Entrance to the National Council building
