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State budget set for approval

The House on Thursday will vote on the revised state budget for this year that is expected to be approved after Edek and the Solidarity Movement said they would back it.

The debate at the plenum is scheduled to start at 4pm.

This is the second vote as the initial budget was rejected last month after Diko refused to back it over disagreement with the government’s refusal to provide access to the Audit Office to files with information on granting Cypriot passports to foreign investors.

Edek announced on Wednesday evening it would back the state budget citing satisfaction of most of the proposals it had made to the government for more generous social benefits.

Head of the Solidarity Movement, Eleni Theocharous, also said on Thursday morning her party would back the budget but “in protest”.

Theocharous told state broadcaster CyBC that her party will be closely monitoring the government’s actions to see if it will deliver on the promises it has made recently to get parties back the budget.

It is expected that the revised budget will pass with 29 votes in favour and 26 against.

The revised budget provides for a rise in expenditure to €7.2bn, up 2.5 per cent, or around €339m compared with the one rejected in December.

It also includes over €350m earmarked for businesses and workers stricken by the fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

It also includes a series of amendments proposed by parties in return for approving the bill, including a €21m reduction in operating expenses.

Revenues are expected to reach €6.5bn.

 

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