PRESIDENT BRIEFED SATURDAY NIGHT FOR MORE THAN THREE HORSON BUDGET Kathmandu, 8 July: Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun Saturday evening briefed President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav for three and half hours on government plans to bring an annual budget for fiscal year 2069/70 that begins14 July. Minister Pun was assisted by an advisor and finance ministry officials while briefing the president. Minister Pun said he briefed the president on the adverse impact on the economy without a complete budget indicating the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s caretaker government’s determination to present a complete a complete budget throiugh an ordinance in the absence of parliament. Pun consulted the president one day after the president advised Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar to stay within constitutional norms while presenting the budget. Opposition has asked the president in writing not to give assent to an ordinance and use his discretionary power and conscience to reject government proposal for a full budget. Opposition says a caretaker government can bring a budget not exceeding one-thhoird outlay in the current fiscal year. NC, UML and other parties are fearful government which has declared it seeks a two-third majority in the 22 November constituent assembly elections will announce a populist budget to gain such a majority to promulgate a constitution of its choice. A situation of direct confrontation between the prime minister and the president over the budget has been created. Nnnn