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The next year’s draft budget is balanced and includes additional funding for various sectors. It includes not only funding to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, but also offers solutions for the healthcare and social security sectors, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 14 October, upon receiving the traditional portfolio containing next year’s draft budget from Jānis Reirs, Minister of Finance.

“As usual, the drafting process at the Cabinet was tense; however, the ministers were able to discuss and debate the draft budget in person. Taking into account the current epidemiological situation, the Saeima is now working remotely, and consideration of the new draft budget will take place on the e-Saeima platform,” said Mūrniece.

The Speaker of the Saeima stated that an extraordinary plenary sitting is planned on 15 October to submit the draft budget to the Saeima committees for consideration. The Budget and Finance (Taxation) Committee of the Saeima plans to start working on the draft budget next Tuesday and to invite the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister to its sitting.

In the draft budget, significant funds are allocated to increase the salaries of healthcare staff, cultural workers, teachers, and people employed in the interior affairs sector. The draft budget also includes significant additional funds for state security-related measures, adherence to national commitments and decisions made, and other crucial priorities.

Next year, the consolidated state budget revenue is planned at EUR 10.6 billion with the expenditure amounting to EUR 12.4 billion. The total budget deficit is planned at EUR 1.62 billion, which amounts to 4.8 % of the national GDP.

Photos from the submission of the draft budget: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/albums/72157720064596960
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Saeima Press Service