The Committee on Budget and Finance adopted the State Budget Act 2016, a reporter of FOCUS News Agency announced.
The Committee adopted the law with 12 votes “in favour”, 7 “against” and 0 “abstained”. The Committee on Budget and Finance held a joint meeting with the parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy and Tourism, which also adopted the State Budget Act 2016.
The bill set expectations for real GDP growth, which is expected to reach 2.1 percent and to maintain a relatively stable growth in 2017 and 2018, respectively - 2.5 percent and 2.7 percent.
“Support for the state budget is support for the government and the other way round – otherwise it would be censure of any government.” That is what Minister of Finance Vladislav Goranov told journalists.
“In this case, it is expected the budget bill to receive the needed support at first reading and to proceed to the next phase of discussion,” Minister Goranov said.
“Am I satisfied? Yes, I am. Not just because of the declared support but also for the voting and the serious attitude of lawmakers,” Mr Goranov noted.
In connection with the withdrawal of his proposals for social benefits cut to the employees of the Interior Ministry, he said that holding such a debate is good news.
“What was announced on Sunday was that the problematic texts would be withdrawn and topics for restructuring of the budgets of defence and security sectors and would be held a debate between national representatives, trade unions, and the government,” he said.
The Minister of Finance said that the good news is that there will be change in the Ministry of Interior.
“The State Budget 2016 is realistic on the backdrop of the general economic situation in the country”. That is what deputy chairperson of the parliamentary budget committee Diana Yordanova said for Radio FOCUS .
According to her country’s development is sustainable after the financial turmoil in 2014. “The budget bill sets funds for defence and security, which is also an international engagement. There will be funds for working salary as well. Not for nothing for the security sector was provided BGN 350 million, of which BGN 114 billion for the Ministry of Interior and BGN 200 million for the Defence Ministry,” she said.
Diana Yordanova said that additional funds were provided for education, which was the main priority. More funds were earmarked for health and social payments as well.
“Revision of the 2015 state budget is in the base of the 2016 state budget”. That is what MP with Movement for Rights and Freedom Petar Chobanov said, cited by a reporter of FOCUS News Agency .
"The budget will be updated before being adopted. The update provides funds for staff and finds undisciplined spending. This is the worst possible attestation of the Ministers,” he added.
In his words, the package documents accompanying budget 2016 seems incomplete.
“We support the macroeconomic framework set out in 2016 state budget”, the BNB Governor Dimitar Radev said during the discussion of the 2016 State Budget Act by the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance.
According to Radev the Bulgaria’s central bank was discussing the various scenarios with the Ministry of Finance and there were no differences in the opinions between them in this respect.
“We support the macroeconomic framework of the budget. We expect growth of 2% in the next year,” Radev said.
In his words, it is expected that in the period 2017-2018 the economic growth will increase. “We support the deficit by 2% and its improvement with 0.5% for 2017 and 2018,” Dimitar Radev said.