ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - Party benches of the ruling coalition have stated that the proposed budget for 2003 is a good basis for launched reforms and economic growth, while the Opposition claims that it will not support it because it
is the result of political arrangements to win the support of the electorate.
ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - Party benches of the ruling coalition have
stated that the proposed budget for 2003 is a good basis for
launched reforms and economic growth, while the Opposition claims
that it will not support it because it is the result of political
arrangements to win the support of the electorate. #L#
The budget is a pre-election compromise among the ruling partners,
the Opposition claims, stating that the increased funds for
shipbuilding were requested by the Social Democrats, while the
increased funds for agriculture and public works were requested by
the Croatian Peasants' Party and the Croatian People's Party
respectively.
The Opposition claims that the draft budget does not include any
plan on reducing unemployment and the foreign debt or increasing
exports and economic growth.
It also claims that the budget for 2003 is neither development-
oriented nor socially sensitive.
Party benches of the ruling coalition presented a number of
objections as well, although they did support the draft, claiming
that the budget could be maintained if planned reforms were
implemented. Some MPs warned that the budget was burdened by too
many allocations for social purposes.
For example, the Libra bench warned that allocating two thirds of
budgetary funds for various social purposes would not make the
country competitive.
(hina) rml sb