The government’s statements of rapid GDP growth rates will remain declarations as long as the government keeps ignoring proposals by OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE on stimulating economic development. This was stated by MP Serhiy Lovochkin.

“Long before the draft budget bill had been discussed by the parliament in first reading, our faction has offered the Cabinet and the Verkhovna Rada to consider a package of amendments to the bill. Keeping in mind the need to increase economy growth rates, we’ve offered a set of proposals, most of which had been ignored by the government. OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE will insist that the amendments are introduced to the final draft of the budget. If not, the government’s statements of rapid GPD growth will remain declarations,” Lovochkin said.

The politician added that the parliamentary majority has rejected the following proposals of OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE on increasing expenses for economic development: support for coal industry (+1.2bln hryvnia), agricultural sector (+10bln hryvnia), cheaper loans for key industry sectors (+4bln hryvnia), support for small and medium businesses (+1bln hryvnia), export (+1bln hryvnia), science and innovations (+1.3bln hryvnia in addition to increased funding for science included in the draft passed in the first reading), and higher energy efficiency (+0.8bln hryvnia). The draft budget bill passed in the first reading increases economic development expenses by total of 1.7bln hryvnia, while OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE proposed a 31-billion hryvnia increase.

“Acting administration had stressed issues like peace, economic revival, and support for social sector during their election campaigns. Now it’s time to cut the talk and walk the walk, but the parliamentary majority and the government take it slow. We insist that OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE’s proposals to the draft budget are the only way to revive economy and social sector. If they are not passed, the budget-2020 will be the budget of poverty,” Lovochkin said.