Like any other incoming government, the interim Jacobs Cabinet deserves the benefit of the doubt. Judging from statements made so far by its members, they are serious about executing instructions given to then-“formateur” and now Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs by Governor Eugene Holiday.
Doing so during the short period they will be in office won’t always be easy, but that is the nature of the task at hand. In any case an earnest effort needs to be made to finish the job as best possible.
One example is next year’s budget. It was already expected to be late and Finance Minister Ardwell Irion now says completion is expected to run into the first quarter of 2020.
The delay is understandable not only due to the change in government, but primarily because concerns raised by both the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT and the Council of Advice must first be addressed.
Nevertheless, the next Parliament to be elected on January 9 takes office on February 10 and will presumably install a new Council of Ministers soon after. It’s consequently preferable if the budget is submitted before then; otherwise the incoming government and legislature may want to take even more time.
Any annual budget should in principle take effect before the start of the year to which it pertains, for obvious reasons. Under special circumstances this can be a bit – but certainly not much – later.
