MP expects 50% deficit in 2009 budget

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A member of the Iraqi parliament’s financial committee, Sami al-Attroshi, on Monday expected a deficit of 50 percent in the 2009 federal budget. “The deficit will occur although oil prices are stable at $50 per barrel,” lawmaker al-Attroshi told IraqiNews.com news agency. “We have a surplus from previous years that can be used to fulfill this year’s deficit, but we will have a problem in the coming years,” he added. “The Iraqi government has been stressing not to use Iraq’s deposits at the Central bank even under deficit in budget,” he added. MH (P) / SS 1