Hon. Mballow has sharply criticized the United Democratic Party (UDP) for boycotting the 2026 budget speech, calling their action “unnecessary” and “misguided.”
Speaking after the Finance Minister’s presentation, Mballow argued that the boycott shows UDP is prioritizing one individual over the national interest.
“The budget speech is very important and should be treated as such,” he said. “Boycotting because one of your members made remarks not aligned with the law is simply not done.”
Mballow emphasized that the budget affects every Gambian and should never be undermined by partisan loyalty.
Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta also weighed in, saying that any reason for absenting must be formally communicated to the Parliament. He stressed that Members of Parliament are answerable to their constituents, not to individuals or political institutions.
