MPs to discuss budget revision on Sept. 18 or 24

BELGRADE Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic stated on Wednesday that the session on budget revision will be scheduled for September 18 or 24. This wil depend on the outcome of consultations with parliamentary groups. MPs to discuss budget revision on Sept. 18 or 24 Stefanovic told Tanjug that he wants to have the greatest possible number of MPs present at the session, which is to make decisions that will affect life of citizens. Besides the budget review, the session's agenda will also table a set of fiscal laws, which will define different ways to fill in the budget, and a new public procurement law, the speaker announced. “We want the public to be fully involved in the adoption of all acts,” Stefanovic said, adding that the session and voting should be completed by the end of the month. The upcoming parliamentary session will be an opportunity to open a discussion on the country's economic situation, and publicly state the condition of the budget that the current authorities inherited from the previous government. “Public finances and public spending have always been a source of corruption in the financial sector. Today, the parliamentary procedure has a new law on public procurement that could successfully combat corruptive processes, which were the weak points of the previous law. This will help the citizens to save between EUR 500 and 700 on an annual level,” Stefanovic said. (Beta, file) Campaign to bring down balancing bill Opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic announced Wednesday he would launch a campaign to prevent the adoption of the budget balancing bill and to hold an extraordinary parliament session on economic policy. Jovanovic told a news conference at the parliament that there was no longer any reasonable argument to allow the ruling coalition to show results in 100 days. "I believe it is the duty of the parties in power to tell the people the truth about which of the economic problems we are facing they are describing as a consequence of misguided policy from years past," said Jovanovic. He also said that "50 days of the new government has cost the country EUR 500 million, a lower credit rating, and the dinar is one of the worst currencies in the world." The LDP leader said that under the circumstances, the course had to be changed and the first step towards defining a new policy was a debate in the parliament. Jovanovic said he expected to reach an agreement with representatives of employers and unions by the end of the week, which would kickstart his campaign to kill the budget balancing bill. Tanjug

MPs to discuss budget revision on Sept. 18 or 24

Stefanović told Tanjug that he wants to have the greatest possible number of MPs present at the session, which is to make decisions that will affect life of citizens.

Besides the budget review, the session's agenda will also table a set of fiscal laws, which will define different ways to fill in the budget, and a new public procurement law, the speaker announced.

“We want the public to be fully involved in the adoption of all acts,” Stefanović said, adding that the session and voting should be completed by the end of the month.

The upcoming parliamentary session will be an opportunity to open a discussion on the country's economic situation, and publicly state the condition of the budget that the current authorities inherited from the previous government.

“Public finances and public spending have always been a source of corruption in the financial sector. Today, the parliamentary procedure has a new law on public procurement that could successfully combat corruptive processes, which were the weak points of the previous law. This will help the citizens to save between EUR 500 and 700 on an annual level,” Stefanović said.

Campaign to bring down balancing bill

Opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Čedomir Jovanović announced Wednesday he would launch a campaign to prevent the adoption of the budget balancing bill and to hold an extraordinary parliament session on economic policy.

Jovanović told a news conference at the parliament that there was no longer any reasonable argument to allow the ruling coalition to show results in 100 days.

"I believe it is the duty of the parties in power to tell the people the truth about which of the economic problems we are facing they are describing as a consequence of misguided policy from years past," said Jovanović. He also said that "50 days of the new government has cost the country EUR 500 million, a lower credit rating, and the dinar is one of the worst currencies in the world."

The LDP leader said that under the circumstances, the course had to be changed and the first step towards defining a new policy was a debate in the parliament.

Jovanović said he expected to reach an agreement with representatives of employers and unions by the end of the week, which would kickstart his campaign to kill the budget balancing bill.