Parliament Rejects 2003 Draft Budget

(Tbilisi, December 28, 2002. Civil Georgia) – At the Parliamentary special session today 116 MPs voted for the adoption of the 2003 draft budget, while 118 votes were needed. 42 MPs were against.

All the opposition factions voted against the draft. State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze stated after the voting that the draft budget “became the victim of the political games.”

“I agree with the State Minister, but it was absolutely inadmissible to adopt proposed draft. One of the reasons for rejecting the draft budget was the government’s refusal to discuss the draft on minimal salaries [which considers increase of the minimal salary to the living wage],” Zurab Zhvania, leader of the opposition United Democrats faction said.

“This is very important fact. Rejection of the draft budget is the result of the cooperation between the opposition. The fact encourages us for further cooperation,” MP Kote Kemularia of opposition National Movement stated.

The government will have to propose the new draft budget to the Parliament at the special session in the first half of January 2003.

“I hope the Parliament will discuss the draft which would be in the interest of the Georgian population,” Nino Burjanadze, Parliamentary Chairperson stated at the session after the voting.

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