Andrija Hebrang of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that the budget "enables social peace as it guarantees salaries, pensions and healthcare."
The budget also "enables the introduction into further economic recovery on the basis of the government's programme and prepares the country for the EU," Hebrang said.
He added that it was incorrect to say that unlike other European countries, Croatia was not recovering from the crisis.
Croatia entered the crisis later and its economic recovery began later, he said, adding that figures on a rise in revenues from Value Added Tax and contributions showed that the country was recovering.
Speaking on behalf of the club of independent members of parliament, Ivan Cehok said the current government was the only one not to have increased budget spending in the pre-election year.
Cehok said that this was only fair in the current circumstances.
"This government has the courage to freeze the budget at this year's level," he said.
Nevertheless, he urged an increase in budget items for education, adding that educated people could pull the country out of the crisis.
Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) said the proposed budget was "neither life-saving nor disastrous".
"This budget is an indicator of the state of affairs in our economy, finance and of our abilities," Pupovac said.
He, however, wondered whether the budget could last if measures aimed at strengthening revenues were not taken in the next quarter.
The SDSS supports the budget because the proposed adoption of the legislation on fiscal accountability and pension indexation as well as the retention of the VAT zero rate are measures that show the readiness to bring public finances in order, without affecting the most vulnerable groups, he said.
Josip Friscic of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) said that it was positive that the draft budget was presented in November, which enabled everybody to make plans for next year.
Friscic applauded the allocation of funds for Croatia's integration with the European Union, which he said would facilitate the arrival of investors in Croatia.