Armenian authorities’ policy leads to poverty aggravation – opposition MP
30.10.2017,
14:04
Nikol Pashinyan, head of YELQ, the only opposition faction in the Armenian National Assembly, speaking Monday at parliamentary briefings about the draft budget for 2018, said that the authorities’ policy can only aggravate poverty in the country instead of lessening it.
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Nikol Pashinyan, head of YELQ, the only opposition faction in the Armenian National Assembly, speaking Monday at parliamentary briefings about the draft budget for 2018, said that the authorities’ policy can only aggravate poverty in the country instead of lessening it.
The parliamentary committees have already started discussing the draft government budget and after a two-week discussion they will put it on the National Assembly’s floor.
“Pensions and social benefits have not been increased over three years, but inflation is being recorded, and it will continue,” Pashinyan said. “Inflation is projected to stand at 4% in 2018, while in 2017 this indicator stood at 2.7%, i.e. the two-year inflation will be recorded at 6.7%. This means that the government, keeping pensions and social benefits unchanged, pursues a policy aggravating poverty, but not lessening it.”
The opposition lawmaker also said that new customs rates will come into force in the Eurasian Economic Union space, and as a result, prices for some consume goods will go up.
“In this context I consider the new budget as absolutely inadequate,” Pashinyan said adding that the parliamentary majority pursue a policy deepening poverty.
On September 28, the Armenian government upheld the draft budget for 2018.
In the draft budget, revenue is projected at AMD 1 trillion 307 billion, spending at AMD 1 trillion 464.2 billion and deficit at AMD 156.8 billion. ($1 – AMD 482.24). --0---
The parliamentary committees have already started discussing the draft government budget and after a two-week discussion they will put it on the National Assembly’s floor.
“Pensions and social benefits have not been increased over three years, but inflation is being recorded, and it will continue,” Pashinyan said. “Inflation is projected to stand at 4% in 2018, while in 2017 this indicator stood at 2.7%, i.e. the two-year inflation will be recorded at 6.7%. This means that the government, keeping pensions and social benefits unchanged, pursues a policy aggravating poverty, but not lessening it.”
The opposition lawmaker also said that new customs rates will come into force in the Eurasian Economic Union space, and as a result, prices for some consume goods will go up.
“In this context I consider the new budget as absolutely inadequate,” Pashinyan said adding that the parliamentary majority pursue a policy deepening poverty.
On September 28, the Armenian government upheld the draft budget for 2018.
In the draft budget, revenue is projected at AMD 1 trillion 307 billion, spending at AMD 1 trillion 464.2 billion and deficit at AMD 156.8 billion. ($1 – AMD 482.24). --0---
