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“I can repeat what I said 4 years ago: the budget has a social orientation, regardless of the situation the country has faced, despite the pandemic, positive decisions have been made to ensure the income of the people,” said Skvernel. Wednesday after the meeting and government meeting.
The prime minister explained that benefits for children, pensions and other amounts will increase next year, as the government has to meet its commitments. He said that so far the idea of the so-called thirteenth pension has not been abandoned.
“The will to make this decision is in the Seimas
When the law that provides for the payment of the 13th pension in December 2021 is approved in the Seimas, and when that law is approved in the Seimas, the Government will provide sources of financing for the implementation of this law, ”said S. Skvernelis.
Before the discussion of the draft budget in the Government, the views of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance Vilius Šapoka on the so-called 13th pension differed.
S. Skvernelis stated that if the Seimas adopts a law on the annual payment of 200 euros, the Government will have to find funds for it. This is estimated to require around 180 million. euros.
Saulius Skvernelis
Warn about debt
Šapoka recalled at a press conference that managing the debt trajectory was a significant challenge, which would require freezing non-essential costs to secure commitments to the most vulnerable members of society, as well as investing in “the DNA of the economy. of the future to evolve as quickly as possible. “
“We must not only think about how we will live in the coming years, but we must think about a few years ahead,” recalled V. Šapoka.
He warned that although the economic situation in Lithuania is the best in all of Europe, the situation in the world is very uncertain.
“Those risks are really very important, we really see that predicting how a pandemic will behave is particularly difficult or impossible. It is possible that the situation in the euro zone will be worse, “said V. Šapoka.
When asked where to find funds for pension number 13, the minister did not speculate.
“I think the subject is sufficiently exhausted, a thirteenth pension would cost up to 200 million. It is definitely not my goal to guess what would happen if it were, “said the minister.
Asked if he would continue working for another term, V. Šapoka denied: “I came as a technocrat and after this budget I will leave as a technocrat.”
The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Finance will make an economic forecast again at the end of the year, from which the budget can be adjusted.
“Yes, it is in fact, because the regime of exceptional circumstances has been approved, the regime approved by the State Audit Office, a provision of the law enters into force that requires making quarterly forecasts and not twice a year.” After that forecast, the budget will be reviewed and I hope not to have any unexpected surprises. But it is known that the world today is highly dependent on the pandemic situation, “said V. Šapoka.
He said the biggest impact on next year’s budget could be the unexpected turn of the pandemic.
“Other risks are related to geopolitical tensions, with world trade in regards to protectionism in trade, and we are also seeing the impact of Brexit.” That would be a side effect. Everything that affects our exporting partners, those risks, can have an impact ”, said V. Šapoka to the risks, emphasizing that the proposed budget presented is“ safe ”.
Moderate growth
On Wednesday, the government approved the state and municipal budget projects, Sodra and the Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund for 2021.
State budget expenditures are expected to reach $ 15.49 billion next year. and revenues of 11,380 million euros. euros. Excluding the impact of Covid-19, revenues will drop 1.3 percent next year compared to those approved this year. (145,369 million euros) and spending will increase by 21.2%. (2,712 million euros).
Next year, the child’s money should increase to 70 euros, the monthly minimum wage on paper should reach 642 euros and the average old-age pension with the required time of service – 429 euros. No new tax-related changes are expected, and the so-called “DNA of the Future Economy” plan will likely have the biggest impact on public finances next year.
Sodra’s draft budget presented to the government on Wednesday indicates that revenues will reach 5.02 billion next year. EUR (2% more than this year) and expenses: 5.01 billion. EUR (10% more).
The budget of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund estimates that income and expenses in 2021 will be 2,370 million. EUR, that is, 2.83%. more than this year.
According to the Ministry of Finance, this year the budget deficit will reach 8.8 percent. gross domestic product. In 2021, it is expected to reduce it to 5 percent.
Public debt is estimated to reach 45.6 percent this year. GDP, in 2021: 49 percent. The government plans to borrow around 5,141 million in the national and international market next year. euros.
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