The Yabloko faction of the State Duma welcomes the reduction in the so-called “lobbyist items” in the draft budget for 2002, said First Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction Sergei Ivanenko in an interview with journalists on Monday August 27, 2001.

According to Ivanenko, one of the positive aspects of the draft budget concerns the reduction of financing in “lobbyist items”, in particular, agriculture, industry and investment programmes.

Ivanenko also explained that these items implied, as a rule, the financing of investment projects; whereas, according to Yabloko, it is very difficult to control usage of these funds. Ivanenko also thinks that it would be better to increase expenditures on wages to budget workers, as well as on the servicing of Russia’s foreign debt.

Ivanenko also noted that the Yabloko faction supported in general an increase in the financing of the socially-oriented items of the budget, namely, the 60% increase in wages to budget workers and expenditures on education.

Another positive aspect of the draft budget for next year, according to Ivanenko, concerns the creation of a stabilisation fund. He also added that about 50% out of the total of 126 bln roubles of budget surplus would be allotted to this fund, which will service Russia’s foreign debt.

At the same time Ivanenko also stressed that the mechanism for using and replenishing of this fund requires further development. Ivanenko also explained that Yabloko could not accept that the government should be entitled to use this funds without any controls. According to the Yabloko faction, the control over expenditures and replenishment of this fund should be clearly stated in the draft budget for 2002.

In general, noted Ivanenko, it is still too early to talk about Yabloko’s position regarding the draft budget. In many aspects, it will depend on how Yabloko’s proposals are considered in further work on the draft. If the key proposals developed by Yabloko are supported by the State Duma, then Yabloko will also support the draft budget, said Ivanenko.

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:

Budget 2002