ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Representatives of opposition benches at the Croatian parliament's Lower House on Thursday announced they will not endorse a government-motioned revision of this year's state budget, which was endorsed by the
bench of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Opposition MPs assessed the revision was unrealistic and in its entire amount changed nothing. The budget is not progress-oriented and its revision even less so, they said, pointing out the budget ought to be on the level of last year's, with priority given to investments in economy and new jobs. Hrvoje Kraljevic of the Croatian Social Liberal Party bench said the government covered cuts in budgetary revenue via debts and spent money not on investments, but on public consumption, whose share in the gross national product he said was 60 percent. Marinko Filipovic of the Croatian Peasants' Party bench s
ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Representatives of opposition benches at
the Croatian parliament's Lower House on Thursday announced they
will not endorse a government-motioned revision of this year's
state budget, which was endorsed by the bench of the ruling Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ).
Opposition MPs assessed the revision was unrealistic and in its
entire amount changed nothing. The budget is not progress-oriented
and its revision even less so, they said, pointing out the budget
ought to be on the level of last year's, with priority given to
investments in economy and new jobs.
Hrvoje Kraljevic of the Croatian Social Liberal Party bench said
the government covered cuts in budgetary revenue via debts and
spent money not on investments, but on public consumption, whose
share in the gross national product he said was 60 percent.
Marinko Filipovic of the Croatian Peasants' Party bench suggested
temporary financing for the first three months in 2000 in order for
a new government to make a new budget.
Dragica Zgrebec of the Social Democratic Party bench voiced her
doubt in the possibility of realising budgetary revenue cuts of 3.1
percent.
Bozo Kovacevic of the Liberal Party bench said the government was
afraid to abide by the Constitution and the laws, that it dared say
nothing about Croatian state leadership caprices which he said cost
taxpayers a lot.
A government acting this way should resign, Kovacevic said, adding
the present state budget was the best argument for it do so.
Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic Assembly bench requested a
cessation in financing Bosnia's federal army's Croat component,
cuts in expenditure for the army and the police, military service
reduced from ten to six months. Saving achieved this way should be
directed to new jobs, he added.
Djuro Njavro of the ruling HDZ said, "This budget is a reflection of
Croatian needs, desires, and possibilities, and takes care of
maintaining economic and social stability."
The budget revision envisages redistribution for what has
priority, he said, pointing out maintained stability was the
foundation for a new investment- and development-oriented cycle.
(hina) ha jn