In submitting the government's budget for 2025 to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Annita Dimitriou, on Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, stated that the budget is developmental and shows a primary surplus of 4,8%.
During the delivery of the budget that took place at the office of the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Keravnos, addressing Ms. Dimitriou, said "based on the constitutional provisions, we have drawn up the budget, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on September 20 and I am presenting it to you submit for study and approval by the House of Representatives".
He stated that the budget for 2025 remains developmental and is in surplus, noting that the primary surplus is at 4,8%. He added that "with the conditions that exist, yes our economy has positive prospects, but in an environment with great uncertainty due to geopolitical developments. So we are constantly moving forward with surplus budgets to be able to face any challenges, but at the same time to be able to implement a social policy as well."
Receiving the budget, Mrs. Dimitriou said that emphasis should be placed on social policy, adding that "we should keep economic stability and perspective, which is very important given the turmoil and developments that exist in the region."
He assured Mr. Keravnos that the Parliamentary Committees prior to the Finance Committee will do what is needed and will exercise parliamentary control, noting that the discussion of the budgets will occupy the House of Representatives until the second ten days of December, when the budget will be passed .
"We will analyze and look at every component of the budget with the common goal of getting the best possible result so that our state, the state's economy, can function, but also so that there is a correct economic allocation of resources where and exactly where there is a priority ", noted the President of the Parliament.
Mr. Keravnos expressed his readiness in order to provide all the necessary information and to have the necessary productive discussions in the Finance Committee.
Mrs. Dimitriou said that the passing of the budget in the House of Representatives is the supreme legislative act, noting that "we are looking forward to this process so that we can simultaneously transfer all that we collect from the citizens".
Possible legislative regulation for timely submission of Hemi-State budgets
The President of the House stated that "we should ensure that we do not have this delay in the submission of budgets. In particular, with regard to semi-governmental organizations, I have also sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Cyprus and I am sure - as you also said to the Council of Ministers - that you will take all the necessary actions so that we do not have this delay, which is also observed you realize that it also puts the House of Representatives in a difficult position".
He noted that the Parliament wants to have the time it needs in order to carry out the parliamentary control as required "and not to have before us a last-minute budget submission and pressure on both the produced and the parliamentary work".
Mr. Keravnos agreed with the position of Mrs. Dimitriou, noting that so far two letters have been sent and many verbal suggestions have been made. He added that he expects each Minister to put pressure on the semi-governmental organizations under his jurisdiction in order to submit the budgets on time.
The President of the Parliament replied that "perhaps we should examine whether we are entitled to regulate this issue legislatively - there are some discussions here in the Parliament as well - in order not to be faced with some data every year".
Source: KYPE
