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The state budget, which will finally be discussed in the Seimas on Tuesday, has aroused many parliamentary passions. Previously, the government rejected many proposals from parliamentarians to increase budget spending and allocate funds to various projects.
However, by voting on the liberal Richard Juška’s proposal to allocate more than 1.5 million. The opposition had enough votes to reject such a conclusion by the government and increase budget spending.
77 deputies voted in favor, 22 of them from the ruling majority: 10 from the Conservatives and one from the Liberal Movement and 1 from the Freedom Group. Among them is Environment Minister Simon Gentville, who previously supported the government’s conclusion at the meeting.
When the news portal tv3.lt contacted S. Gentvilas, he stated that he inadvertently voted and that it is a mistake.
“I was completely confused there. Just a mistake. <...> I am against. I myself approved the government budget. As I attended the next match in parallel, I made a mistake, ”commented S. Gentvilas.
After this vote, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė broke away and addressed the previous ruling coalition.
“I congratulate the previous government for not having increased the deficit for which it is trying to blame me on the cross by not putting money into the budget, not even what is required to meet the minimum requirements of the law. There has never been so much cynicism in this country, ”said the Prime Minister.
The president of the Budget and Finance Commission, Mykolas Majauskas, was outraged. He said the additional funds were not for those who needed them most.
“Doctors work on the front line. It would be very strange for me to look into their eyes when they are raised by assistants rather than doctors.
What is our priority? Why do we think only of ourselves and not of others? ”, Said M. Majauskas.
The initiator of the project R. Juška also responded to such comments: “It is very immoral to oppose doctors with a salary by voting.”
Peasant Valius Ąžuolas was happy with the decision of the MPs after the vote.
“I want to be happy with that decision and remember that the work of Seimas and the quality of the legislation depends a lot on the employees who work at Seimas.
We also need to understand the need for competent people to be fed an adequate salary, “he said after the vote.
The Seimas concludes discussions on the 2021 state budget and parliamentarians will begin voting on its adoption.
Oak spared no criticism
Before the Seimas session, the peasants of the opposition assure that the rulers in power will put Lithuania in a situation in which we will have to borrow dearly. The Finance Minister responds that listening to the peasants implies a feeling of shame.
“There are really two main reasons why the peasant group cannot support the budget. The first reason was a mechanical increase in the public deficit. This is a very bad phenomenon, because it will worsen the government’s debt rating, which means that we will have to pay more for the money borrowed, “V. Ąžuolas told reporters gathered at the Seimas on Tuesday.
V. Ąžuolas, who was the chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee for the last term, assured that the first budget project presented to the Seimas by the Government of Saulius Skvernelis was intended to allow borrowing for the coronavirus situation as it was during the first wave.
“What was the situation? In the spring, even Landsbergis, including the opposition, supported the proposal, relying on the Squirrel Government. What’s the score? We find 6 billion. of which 3 billion euros were used for loans. only half of the funds.
The current path makes me very sad. This means that the rulers do not trust the Šimonytė Government if they do not want to give them the same opportunity to borrow and use kovidui funds needed. Whatever program they immediately scheduled, they allocated just $ 1 billion. euros covid management, when we know 3 billion was needed this year. euros covid administration. It is immediately clear that those billion will not be enough, ”reasoned V. Ąžuolas.
The parliamentarian speculated that the government will have to return the budget to the Seimas for it to reconsider, when the necessary funds for the management of the coronavirus will have to be included.
“And this is a very bad sign as a state, as a government, it introduces mistrust in the government,” said the peasant.
The second reason why the peasant group will not support the budget, according to V. Ąžuola, is that the government did not include the money from the European Recovery Plan in the budget.
Saying that they do not exist yet, although many European countries, such as Estonia, Italy, France, have included them in income since February 1. he already plans to release them, ”said the politician.
According to V. Ąžuolas, for example, Estonia since February 1. 30 million from this fund. will go towards renovating and purchasing medical facilities.
“Doesn’t Lithuania need it? It seems really necessary to me. For these two reasons, we cannot support the budget,” said V. Roble.
It will control the coronavirus first, then the debt
“When I listen to the former rulers, I feel such a feeling of foreign shame. When you try to say that the budget deficit that was drawn is 5%, it makes some sense, ”the conservative Finance Minister G. Skaistė responded to the criticisms of V. Ąžuolas.
According to her, the previous government has allocated 3,400 million for the management of the coronavirus. of which EUR 2.8 billion were used. euros. According to the minister, if the Government of S. Skvernelis, in case of success in the Seimas elections, planned to continue managing the pandemic in this way, then the budget deficit could have increased to 10%.
G. Skaistė assures that not all the expenses assigned by the previous cabinet were related to the management of the coronavirus, because some of them, for example, were destined to global amounts.
“The expenses planned today are optimal, according to the measures that are planned, the expenses are planned for half a year, we hope that during that time fight he will manage, ”said the minister.
If the situation does not stabilize as planned, according to G. Skaistė, it will be possible to adjust the expenses for coronavirus in the spring session of the Seimas. According to the minister, the primary task of this government is to control the coronavirus, and the growing public debt is a matter for the coming years.
“That indebtedness is not just a matter for Lithuania, it is done by the entire European Union, therefore, the decisions will be common, the measures will be taken into account the common international context. <...> The cost of borrowing is very low. The question today is how much is being borrowed and whether those costs make sense. Do they really contribute to the economic recovery, or are they more destined to eat and build roads, as was the case at times before, ”said G. Sklaistė.
According to her, it is planned to borrow 5.5 billion next year. euros.
MPs intend to pass the 2021 state budget on Tuesday. Estimate the deficit of public administrations, the difference between expenses and income, at 7%. gross domestic product.
The draft budget was prepared by the outgoing government of Saulius Skvernelis, but it was still adjusted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ingrida Šimonytė.
Next year, an average of 9 percent. Old-age pensions will be increased, ten euros – up to 70 euros – of money per child, the minimum wage will be increased from 607 to 642 euros (before taxes).
The new government has increased its budget to manage the coronavirus pandemic. Additional funds are provided for disability benefits, allowances, and soft loans.
The state budget revenue in 2021, including the European Union and other international financial aid, will be 11,252 million. and costs will exceed revenues by 4,573 million euros. euros.
The budget is based on GDP growth of 2.8% next year and wage growth will slow to 4.1%.
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