Budget approved at last

The Budget for 2013 was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives this evening in a scene which could not have contrasted more sharply with what happened in December. The Budget was defeated in a tense sitting in December when the then Labour opposition and Nationalist MP Franco Debono voted against. The same exercise, with the same measures and slight changes to financial projections was presented once more by new Finance Minister Edward Scicluna on Monday and approved through all stages today, the House having met practically all day yesterday and today. The tension was gone, with MPs from both sides chatting in the Chamber and the Deputy Speaker twice asking them not to be a distraction to whoever was speaking. There was also laughter when the Deputy Speaker called Joseph Muscat  'Leader of the Opposition'. The debate was concluded by Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna and Dr Muscat. Mr Grech reiterated the government's commitments. He said that his ministry was working to ensure that delayed infrastructural projects did not lose EU funds allocated to them. The government, he said, would soon present its projects for funds under the...