MPs today within the 54. session will continue the debate after the amended Draft Budget for 2022 in the second reading.
The total expenditures in the Draft Budget are planned at 272,4 billion denars or 35,2 percent of GDP, and total revenues are planned at the level of 238,9 billion denars or 30,9 percent of GDP. The deficit is projected at 33,5 billion denars or 4,3 percent of GDP, and capital investments will amount to 38,2 billion denars.
According to the Minister of Finance Fatmir BesimiThe draft budget for 2022 is a response to the challenges that lie ahead, but it is also aimed at realizing the priorities for next year.
The forecasts for the global economy for 2022, as Besimi pointed out on Friday on the first day of the plenary debate, are optimistic, and in the Macedonian economy the year is expected to end according to the projected GDP growth of 4,1 percent, but with a real possibility to overcome. In 2022, economic growth is expected to accelerate and amount 4,6 percent in conditions of increased investments, growth of consumption at a solid level and stabilization of external demand.
– Simply put, in 2022 we will have a “development budget”. The development component is seen through the increased funds for capital expenditures by about 28,3 percent compared to 2021 or in 2022, 8,4 billion denars more are provided for capital projects, said Besimi, adding that the so-called “Golden rule” in public finance, ie for the first time capital investments are higher than the budget deficit.
In the Draft Budget are incorporated and 23 amendments in a total value of 382 million denars, of which, as Besimi pointed out, most are from the opposition. Some of them are the amendment for creating an intervention fund in agriculture and the amendments for energy efficiency.
For the opposition, the draft budget in the amount of 4,4 billion euros is the largest budget ever, unrealistic and undeveloped. According to the opposition, no money is provided for the energy crisis, and the projected budget deficit is high. Projections for capital investments, they think that they are lying considering that their realization in the past years is small.
According to the law, the Draft Budget should be adopted by 31 December.
On the agenda of the 54th session are the proposal for election of deputies of the Ombudsman, the draft laws amending the Law on Explosive Orders, the Law on Interception of Communications, the Law on Protection from Explosive Substances, as well as the Law on Foreigners, all in second reading.
Among the other items on the session are the amended Draft-Law on Amending the Law on Police, the Draft-Law on Mediation, in second reading, as well as the Draft-Law on Amending the Law on Storage and Protection from Flammable Liquids and Gases, in second reading .
Source: Sloboden Pecat
