PM, Parliament at Odds over Draft Budget

On October 20 Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania accused those parliamentarians who criticized the 2005 draft budget of ?political intrigues.?

?I am ready to discuss the draft budget with the parliamentarians, including with Chairperson of the Parliament [Nino Burjanadze] openly, and even hold TV debates if necessary, so that the critics can explain what is wrong with the document and what kind of complaints they have,? Zurab Zhvania said while speaking at the cabinet session.

?But I am not ready and I will not allow hidden political intrigues regarding the budget,? he added.

On October 19 a session of the Parliamentary Committee for Finance and Budgetary Issues said the draft of the 2005 state budget was ?incomplete.? Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze also criticized the document on October 19 and said that without amendments the draft is doomed to be rejected by the Parliament.
 
On October 1, the Cabinet submitted a draft of the 2005 budget to the Parliament. The government plans to increase expenditures by 7% in comparison with 2004. According to the 2005 draft budget expenditures will be raised up to 1.8 billion Lari (approximately USD 1.0 billion), while revenues are expected to reach 2.01 billion Lari (approximately USD 1 billion).

MPs are also demanding that the government increase defense spending from the current 119 million Lari (USD 65 million) to 157 million (USD 85.7 million).