ZAGREB, March 17 (Hina) - Although it lasted until the early morning hours on Friday, a debate on a draft budget for 2000 at the House of Representatives was not completed and will resume today. During the discussion, which was rather
calm, representatives of the ruling coalition supported the draft whereas their opposition colleagues claimed the government was going back on its electoral promises. Drago Krpina of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) reminded that the ruling coalition had promised to set aside more funds for social programmes, financially reinforce local administration and self-government, return a debt of 30 billion kuna to pensioners and increase subsidies for agriculture. Not many of those promises have remained in the draft, he added. Vesna Pusic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) said the draft was a first step toward the goals the ruling coalition had promised to achieve. Public spending and the re
ZAGREB, March 17 (Hina) - Although it lasted until the early morning
hours on Friday, a debate on a draft budget for 2000 at the House of
Representatives was not completed and will resume today.
During the discussion, which was rather calm, representatives of
the ruling coalition supported the draft whereas their opposition
colleagues claimed the government was going back on its electoral
promises.
Drago Krpina of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) reminded that
the ruling coalition had promised to set aside more funds for social
programmes, financially reinforce local administration and self-
government, return a debt of 30 billion kuna to pensioners and
increase subsidies for agriculture. Not many of those promises have
remained in the draft, he added.
Vesna Pusic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) said the draft was
a first step toward the goals the ruling coalition had promised to
achieve. Public spending and the repressive state mechanism are
being reduced, which is necessary since we live in a peace-time
period. On the other side, funds for science, culture, education,
health, and agriculture have been increased, Pusic said, adding the
budget reflected the government's European orientation.
Vladimir Seks of the HDZ spoke about the reduction of capital
investments, which he believes will result in the increase of
unemployment.
There would be more money for capital investments if the government
had not encountered higher state debts and poorer economic
situation than expected, representatives of the ruling coalition
said. They reminded that the government would return debts
amounting to 3.6 billion kuna incurred through uneconomical
projects.
It is impossible, said Zlatko Matesa (HDZ), to make a budget which
will suit everyone. In the past two days alone that they were
proposing amendments, representatives sought increases in the
budget amounting to six to seven billion kuna, he said.
Romano Mestrovic (SDP) believes the proposed budget is a budget of
hope. It is painful because it demands sacrifices of all of us, but
it will stabilise Croatia in every aspect and open the doors to
Europe, Mestrovic said.
(hina) mm rml