Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn believes that complete execution of the budget for the next year will give country a chance. He made this statement in the interview to Rada television channel.
Commenting on the criticism of the draft budget by the opposition, V.Lytvyn agreed that it is substantiated, as "there never have been perfect budgets which did not provoke any complaints." "On the other hand, it is not logical: some representatives of the opposition call the draft budget too optimistic, and recommend cutting it down by UAH 50 billion, at the same time claiming that it is bad," the Head of the Parliament noted.
He believes that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine should adjust the draft state budget for 2012 together. "I would like to see all parliamentary committees, including the chief committee on budget, and the government members, including the Ministry of Finance, work," V.Lytvyn stressed. This week the Head of the Parliament chaired the council of the government representatives and heads of regional councils who discussed the issue of local budgets. "We expected that representatives of all regions will visit the budget committee to check the planned expenditures for every region," the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed. He stated that most social expenditures belong to the competence of the local self-government which should have a possibility to realize the delegated powers.
V.Lytvyn informed that the draft state budget for 2012 "increases expenditures in almost all spheres." At the same time, against the background of a general increase of the gross domestic product till UAH 1,5 trillion, absolute budget indices will be slightly lower, as the smaller part of the national wealth is distributed through the national budget. V.Lytvyn supports this scheme.
He believes that the budget "should be realistic and devoid of populism." "In this respect, we have the opportunities for work," the Head of the Parliament stated. He also appreciates the fact that the budget envisages formation of the regional development fund, "as funds should be accumulated for the event of emergencies, especially considering the expectable new wave of the global crisis." "We should protect the country and public well-being," V.Lytvyn declared.