National Assembly debates 2017 state budget bill

National Assembly debates 2017 state budget bill

Assembly President Maja Gojkovic then advised the minister "not to pay any attention to the minority that is endangering the majority."

At one point, Vujovic even said that he "does not have to present (the bill) in front of deputies, as there are other rooms that can be used for consultations," but Gojkovic eventually "persuaded him" to continue.

In the meantime, she cautioned New Party leader Zoran Zivkovic, who at one point held up a copy of the Assembly Rules of Procedure and said, "Let's have another one."

Zivkovic said that he was cautioned "just because he wished to point out to a violation of the Rules of Procedure."

The warning issued to this deputy was met with the ruling majority's applause, as was Vujovic's decision to continue his presentation.

The draft budget and the accompanying laws before the National Assembly provide for revenues of RSD 1,092.9 billion (in 2016, the budget income was set at RSD 997.4 billion), and expenditures of RSD1,162 billion (RSD 1,119 billion in 2016). The deficit will be RSD69.1 billion (RSD 121.8 billion in 2016).

Having passed the draft budget, the Serbian government reported a budget deficit of 1.7 percent of GDP, "the lowest in Serbian history," the Beta agency reported ahead of today's session, adding that in 2017 expenditures for total capital investment will be RSD 147 billion 3.3 percent of GDP, while the budget has been based on a three percent GDP growth rate, which will increase to 3.5 percent in 2018. The reforms and projects underway have led to a 5.7 pct growth of investment activity, which will be one of the main generators of economic growth in 2017, Dusan Vujovic said on Monday.

"Everybody is acknowledging now that the real growth rate for next year is 3 pct, which is 0.8 pct higher than the initial 2.2 pct projection," Vujovic said in the Serbian Assembly.

Investments will account for 1.2 pct of the total, net export growth for 0.6 pct and increased spending for 1.2 pct, he said.

The gradual emergence of spending as an element of higher economic growth is very significant, he said.

Earlier on, everyone expected a 2.8 pct deficit in 2017, while now the general government deficit is down to 1.7 pct, including the planned salary increases and the increase of investment activity and capital expenditure, he said.