BRATISLAVA, December 8, (WEBNOVINY) — On Wednesday, the Parliament approved the draft bill on state budget for next year. Of the 147 deputies present, 78 deputies voted for the bill and 69 were against it. Thus, all ruling coalition deputies present supported the draft, while the opposition did not. The lawmakers supported only one proposal for change in the text, from the workroom of the coalition partners, which reflected all current agreements of the ruling coalition. Taking the proposal for change into account, the state’s revenues next year should be EUR 13.148 billion and expenditures should represent EUR 16.958 billion. The state budget deficit is projected at EUR 3.81 billion in 2011, which would represent 4.9 percent of gross domestic product.
In the parliamentary debate, nine proposals for changes to the table bill were raised, whereas eight by the opposition deputies. The coalition deputies approved only one complex proposal for changes, in which all effective agreements of coalition partners were included, for instance funding the shortfall caused by failure to approve the increase in the excise tax on beer. Construction of road infrastructure should get EUR 8 million more than originally proposed. The budget in its current form counts on introduction of a tax on corporate proceeds from sold emission quota (AAU). Net income from this tax should represent EUR 9.5 million and potentially up to EUR 70 million. The draft bill on the state budget also covers increased funding for the Parliament, President’s Office, and other items, on which the ruling coalition agreed.
Based on the draft budget for next year, the Education Ministry is to operate with the highest budget of EUR 2.337 billion, which included drawing EU funds, too. Next is Labor Ministry with EUR 2.01 billion, and Transport Ministry with EUR 1.89 billion. In the debate, opposition deputies criticized in particular the fact that the reduction of the deficit will be on the expense of the people, and will mean higher taxes and lower incomes. Coalition deputies argued that the austerity measures on both the income and cost sides of the budget are inevitable due to the account left behind by the previous government.
SITA
