Morocco's parliament approves 2017 budget bill after 5 months delay

Morocco's House of Representatives approved late on Friday the 2017 budget bill after more than five months delay.

A total of 194 lawmakers voted yes, while 56 voted against the bill, and 39 abstained.

The bill should have been voted on by parliament last year, but was delayed due to a six-month political deadlock.

The budget bill is banking on an economic growth of 4.5 percent in 2017, following a 1.8 percent in 2016.

The bill allocates 19 billion U.S. dollars to public investments, and plans to create 23,768 jobs in the public sector. Endit