This paper discusses the way that Parliament scrutinises the Government's proposals for taxation, set out in the annual Budget statement. It looks at how this procedure may be affected by the timing of a General Election, and the decision in 2017 to move the Budget from the Spring to the Autumn. It also provides some suggestions for further reading.
Documents to download
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Political developments in Afghanistan (148 KB, PDF)
This note looks at the political system in Afghanistan in the wake of the 2010 parliamentary elections and the moves towards reintegration and a negotiated settlement with the Taliban.
This note looks at the political system Afghanistan in the wake of the 2010 parliamentary elections and the moves towards reintegration and a negotiated settlement with the Taliban.
• Politics in Afghanistan are unpredictable and some institutions work much better than others, with the parliament showing signs of independence
• The Presidency still has much more power than other national institutions, but in global terms it is weak
• Patronage and corruption may be on the rise
• Both Karzai and Obama have made personnel changes which may be preparations for a faster move towards negotiations with the insurgency
• Inter-ethnic tensions, particularly associated with the Afghan army and other security-related institutions, is reported to be on the increase and non-Pashtuns generally oppose negotiations with the Taliban
• A real commitment from Afghanistan’s neighbours to foster stability would make a big difference. It is not clear that this is forthcoming, particularly in the case of Pakistan and India, who may play out their rivalries in Afghanistan
• The possibility of a resurgence of instability or even of civil war when Coalition forces withdraw cannot be ruled out
Documents to download
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Political developments in Afghanistan (148 KB, PDF)
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