Yemen Parliament Approves Budget as Presidential Council Stresses Partnership

PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi is sworn in before PM Abdulmalik in Aden. (Saba)
PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi is sworn in before PM Abdulmalik in Aden. (Saba)
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Yemen Parliament Approves Budget as Presidential Council Stresses Partnership

PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi is sworn in before PM Abdulmalik in Aden. (Saba)
PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi is sworn in before PM Abdulmalik in Aden. (Saba)

The Yemeni parliament approved on Thursday the state budget that was submitted by the government.

The budget was approved after extensive deliberations. The government was requested to present answers to inquiries posed by the lawmakers.

A senior Yemeni official told Asharq Al-Awsat that state institutions are now functioning in an official and legal manner. The parliament is monitoring the situation and holding sides and individuals to account.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired by Rashad al-Alimi, held its first meeting with the consultation and reconciliation body in the interim capital, Aden, revealed official sources.

The body is comprised of 50 figures, representing all national forces. The meeting was attended by the seven members of the PLC, Aydarous al-Zubaidi, Sheikh Sultan al-Aradah, Tariq Saleh, Abdel-Rahman al-Mahrami, Abdullah al-Alimi, Otham Majaly and Faraj al-Bahsani.

They all stressed that the "spirit of consensus and partnership" will mark the transitional period.

Chairman Alimi hoped during the meeting that that the consultation body would assist the PLC and for its members, who are experienced in politics and administrative work, to be up to the task assigned to them.

"Our people expect you to embody consensus in order to help the PLC and this, in turn, will reflect on the interests of the Yemenis and their aspirations for peace and development," he added, according to the Saba news agency.

The PLC had convened on Wednesday to address services and living conditions throughout Yemen, especially in Aden.

Official sources said the meeting was attended by Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik and Aden Governor Ahmed Lamlas.

The officials tackled various pressing issues that needed to be addressed, especially electricity, healthcare, education, and the state of roads. Several urgent decisions were taken.



UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
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UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)

UK premier Keir Starmer told Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that any peace process in the Middle East should pave the way for a Palestinian state, Downing Street said.

The two leaders held a call that focused on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a UK government spokesperson said.

During the conversation, "both agreed that we must work towards a permanent and peaceful solution that guarantees Israel's security and stability", the British readout of the call added.

"The prime minister added that the UK stands ready to do everything it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state."

Starmer also "reiterated that it was vital to ensure humanitarian aid can now flow uninterrupted into Gaza, to support the Palestinians who desperately need it", the statement added.

Starmer "offered his personal thanks for the work done by the Israeli government to secure the release of the hostages, including British hostage Emily Damari", the statement added.

"To see the pictures of Emily finally back in her family's arms was a wonderful moment but a reminder of the human cost of the conflict," Starmer added, according to the statement.

A truce agreement between Israel and Hamas to end 15 months of war in Gaza came into effect on Sunday.

The first part of the three-phase deal should last six weeks and see 33 hostages returned from Gaza in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.