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`Humiliating' budget: Parliament minority groups up in arms against
government's economic outlook for 2013
http://armenianow.com/economy/41141/armenia_opposition_parliament_state_budget2013_deb ate
ECONOMY | 16.11.12 | 11:17
Parliamentary factions outside the current governing coalition have
pledged to vote against the 2013 draft budget that they said was
humiliating for citizens of Armenia.
The budget based on the projection of an inflation of up to 6 percent
does not provide for any rise in public sector salaries and pensions,
which gives the Armenian opposition an occasion to call it a
`regressive' budget.
The four factions constituting the minority in the National Assembly
on Thursday criticized the government for what they described as a
flawed financial document.
The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), which considers itself to be an
`alternative' to the current government, has been one of the most
vocal opponents of the coalition majority on the matter.
During the debate, PAP parliamentary faction secretary Naira Zohrabyan
said the 2013 state budget will only spur further outmigration from
Armenia as it fails to address the most essential social and economic
problems facing the country.
`With this budget a citizen of Armenia can survive at best. We value
the dignity of Armenian citizens and, therefore, can't vote for a
budget like this,' she said.
Representatives of the three other minority groups, including the
Armenian National Congress, Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage, also leveled
harsh criticism at the government over the draft budget.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan disagreed with the opponents, implying
that the 2013 budget was realistic.
`There is a great temptation before elections to submit a budget that
would envisage a sharp rise in salaries, pensions and social benefits.
But we've managed to resist this temptation as we are a responsible
government,' the head of the Armenian government stressed.
The debate in the parliament is expected to continue. The two majority
factions, including the ruling Republican Party, hold enough seats in
the legislature to pass the budget law when the vote on the document
takes place sometime in December.
government's economic outlook for 2013
http://armenianow.com/economy/41141/armenia_opposition_parliament_state_budget2013_deb ate
ECONOMY | 16.11.12 | 11:17
Parliamentary factions outside the current governing coalition have
pledged to vote against the 2013 draft budget that they said was
humiliating for citizens of Armenia.
The budget based on the projection of an inflation of up to 6 percent
does not provide for any rise in public sector salaries and pensions,
which gives the Armenian opposition an occasion to call it a
`regressive' budget.
The four factions constituting the minority in the National Assembly
on Thursday criticized the government for what they described as a
flawed financial document.
The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), which considers itself to be an
`alternative' to the current government, has been one of the most
vocal opponents of the coalition majority on the matter.
During the debate, PAP parliamentary faction secretary Naira Zohrabyan
said the 2013 state budget will only spur further outmigration from
Armenia as it fails to address the most essential social and economic
problems facing the country.
`With this budget a citizen of Armenia can survive at best. We value
the dignity of Armenian citizens and, therefore, can't vote for a
budget like this,' she said.
Representatives of the three other minority groups, including the
Armenian National Congress, Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage, also leveled
harsh criticism at the government over the draft budget.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan disagreed with the opponents, implying
that the 2013 budget was realistic.
`There is a great temptation before elections to submit a budget that
would envisage a sharp rise in salaries, pensions and social benefits.
But we've managed to resist this temptation as we are a responsible
government,' the head of the Armenian government stressed.
The debate in the parliament is expected to continue. The two majority
factions, including the ruling Republican Party, hold enough seats in
the legislature to pass the budget law when the vote on the document
takes place sometime in December.