'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
17 October 2008
BRUSSELS — Federal parliament has given the government the go-ahead after two days of debates over budget for 2009.
The vote of confidence came after two days of intense debates on the Prime Minister’s budget plan and took place past midnight.
Ninety-one MPs voted for, and 51 against it, with the majority against opposition.
PM left early
Prime Minister Yves Leterme was absent when the voting took place. The West Fleming had left parliament around 10:30 pm Thursday evening as he has a very busy agenda.
Opposition parties, including the Flemish socialists of SP A lashed out at Leterme for leaving early. Peter Vanvelthoven said: "We have never seen anything like this. We would have appreciated his presence, to say the least."
[flandersnews.be / Expatica]