This budget is realistic for the times in which we live in, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said in parliament on Tuesday, calling on deputies to support the draft budget for 2011 and efforts the government had invested in the economic recovery and overcoming the crisis.
"The government is confident that the budget which we are presenting today is the preparation for a huge job ahead of us," the PM told deputies in the national parliament.
Kosor stressed that the budget clearly shows the policy of her government for 2011 which, according to the PM, will be marked by further cuts of budgetary expenses in the overall Gross Domestic Product, namely maintaining these cuts on the same level as this year, or even less.
"This budget is realistic for the times in which we live in and I am sorry that the government's proposal will not be supported by all deputies, in order to have budgetary expenses remain at this year's level. This is an opportunity to fix that, so I am calling on you to support the budget," Kosor said in parliament.
She added that the budget was also marked by smaller tax burdens for citizens and the economy, as well as the same level of the protection of the most vulnerable groups of the society.
The PM reiterated there would be no cuts in salaries and pensions next year.
