Armenian parliamentary opposition to vote against 2012 budget
19.11.2011,
01:06
The parliamentary factions of the oppositional Zharangutyun (Heritage) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) parties said at a briefing in parliament today they would vote against the draft 2012 budget.
YEREVAN, November 18. /ARKA/. The parliamentary factions of the oppositional Zharangutyun (Heritage) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) parties said at a briefing in parliament today they would vote against the draft 2012 budget.
"The 2012 budget will not allow our country fellows to solve their social problems and they will again remain virtually with no government assistance. We can not vote for this budget," Armen Martirosyan from Heritage faction said.
He said his faction proposed that the government should seek additional funds of approximately $3 billion, virtually as much as the draft budget. He claimed that the additional revenue do exist but it is either in the pockets of a few clans, or out of the authorities’ sight.
Artsvik Miansian from ARF faction said this budget does not meet the challenges faced by Armenia, and offers a socially unacceptable economic policy, adding that this budget may even worsen the living standards of Armenian citizens.
Minasian said the experts from World Bank Yerevan Office shared their concerns during discussions on next year budget. He said they agreed with much of the opposition’s proposals. However, he welcomed a package of changes to tax laws, designed by the government to secure collection of 101 billion drams in additional revenue next year.
"Much of our proposals are reflected in the proposed changes. But we would like to see more radical changes, including full enforcement of progressive taxation scale and tougher luxury tax," Minasian said.
The 2012 draft budget calls for 910 billion drams in revenues and 1.042.5 trillion drams in spending. The projected deficit is 132.5 billion drams. The amount of revenue is projected to increase by 6.8% from this year’s budget (852.4 billion drams). The spending is expected to grow by 41.5 billion drams.
Some 86.1% of the spending (897.8 billion drams) is projected as current expenditure; 13.9% or 144.7 billion drams are projected as net non-financial expenditure. Some 46.2% are projected as social spending (education, health, social security).
The Armenian parliament is considering now a package of government-developed changes to introduce a tax on luxury cars, increase by 50% taxes on expensive alcoholic beverages and increase also the income tax by introducing progressive taxation scale. ($1 – 384.48 drams). -0-
"The 2012 budget will not allow our country fellows to solve their social problems and they will again remain virtually with no government assistance. We can not vote for this budget," Armen Martirosyan from Heritage faction said.
He said his faction proposed that the government should seek additional funds of approximately $3 billion, virtually as much as the draft budget. He claimed that the additional revenue do exist but it is either in the pockets of a few clans, or out of the authorities’ sight.
Artsvik Miansian from ARF faction said this budget does not meet the challenges faced by Armenia, and offers a socially unacceptable economic policy, adding that this budget may even worsen the living standards of Armenian citizens.
Minasian said the experts from World Bank Yerevan Office shared their concerns during discussions on next year budget. He said they agreed with much of the opposition’s proposals. However, he welcomed a package of changes to tax laws, designed by the government to secure collection of 101 billion drams in additional revenue next year.
"Much of our proposals are reflected in the proposed changes. But we would like to see more radical changes, including full enforcement of progressive taxation scale and tougher luxury tax," Minasian said.
The 2012 draft budget calls for 910 billion drams in revenues and 1.042.5 trillion drams in spending. The projected deficit is 132.5 billion drams. The amount of revenue is projected to increase by 6.8% from this year’s budget (852.4 billion drams). The spending is expected to grow by 41.5 billion drams.
Some 86.1% of the spending (897.8 billion drams) is projected as current expenditure; 13.9% or 144.7 billion drams are projected as net non-financial expenditure. Some 46.2% are projected as social spending (education, health, social security).
The Armenian parliament is considering now a package of government-developed changes to introduce a tax on luxury cars, increase by 50% taxes on expensive alcoholic beverages and increase also the income tax by introducing progressive taxation scale. ($1 – 384.48 drams). -0-
