Project budget presented for 2021, opposition criticises cutting health budget

Until, according to Krasniqi, budget expenditures for 2021 with this draft will be 2 billion and 412m euros.

The draft budgets were criticised by opposition deputies for budgetary allocations, which they say has been cut the health budget and has increased the budget for infrastructure. So they indicated they would not support this budget.

Due to the negative effects caused by the pandemic in the economy, Deputy Prime Minister Krasniqi during the presentation of the draft budget to the Board and Transfer Commission stressed that the 2020 economic downturn is estimated to be 6.7 per cent, while in 2021 there is expected to be a positive return or 5.2 per cent economic growth.

He before the deputies said that with the draft budget for next year, there will be 1.5 per cent savings for goods and services spending categories.

“625m euros are earmarked for salaries. Spending on subsidies is down to 5.2 per cent, while 613m euros in capital investments are envisioned. The budget deficit is expected to be 4.2 per cent. While the drop in revenues by the end of 2020 will be over 320m euros”, Krasniqi said.

MP Mimoza Kusari Lila has criticised budgetary divisions, which said there will be budgetary cuts for the 25m-euro Ministry of Health, while 54m euros more for the Ministry of Infrastructure, the KP reports.

Whatever has happened to Kosovo and the world, there are budget cuts in health, education and the economy, while there is an increase in the budget for infrastructure. So the government continues to raise the budget for asphalt”, Kusari Lila said.

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Bedri Hamza said that, technically, the budget is prepared on the basis of standards, while in terms of estimates for economic growth, it will be deeper than what is projected at 6.7 per cent.

According to the PDK GP chief, this budget has not evolved and has also sided with the health and military sectors.

This Government had presented the government's programme for health support, development, billion investment, military service. However, none remain so far. Public debt is up. And the year's 2021 budget will be the same as that of 2019. So we as the PDK will not support this” budget, Hamza said.

MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Fatmir Rexhepi, said budgetary forecasts and economic assessments enable real measurements due to pandemic.