Iran's parliament rejects proposed Rouhani budget
- The rejection came with a vote of 148 to 99, who already control parliament and the judiciary, appear poised to win the presidency in the June polls.
- In a session broadcast live on state radio, opponents of the budget, which had been amended by a parliament committee.
DUBAI: Iran's parliament on Tuesday rejected a draft state budget presented by pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani's government as factional tensions rise ahead of presidential elections next year.
The rejection came with a vote of 148 to 99, who already control parliament and the judiciary, appear poised to win the presidency in the June polls. Rouhani cannot run, having served two consecutive four-year terms.
In a session broadcast live on state radio, opponents of the budget, which had been amended by a parliament committee, said its heavy deficit and unrealistic oil income forecast would burden an economy already hit hard by US sanctions.
The government is expected to submit a new draft budget within two weeks, and if the fiscal impasse is not resolved a temporary budget would have to be passed for one to three months, senior lawmakers told Iranian news agencies.
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