Parliament debates 2021 budget on January 18

Τhe revised 2021 budget will be debated in an extraordinary plenary of the House of Representatives on January 18.

The House of Representatives plenary rejected the state budget for 2021 on December 17 last year.

In a written statement issued by the presidency following a meeting of political party leaders chaired by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace, on Friday, Deputy Government Spokesperson Panayiotis Sentonas said the President briefed political party leaders on the integration of proposals they have submitted in the revised budget.

House of Representatives President Adamos Adamou and Ministers of Finance, Constantinos Petrides and Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance Zeta Emilianides were also present at the meeting.

President Anastasiades, Sentonas said, briefed political party leaders that the budget would be submitted before the Cabinet for approval today, adding that following a suggestion by the House President and the unanimous consent of political party leaders, the budget will be debated in an extraordinary plenary of the Parliament on January 18.

Political party proposals had been submitted in the context of talks between the parties and the government following the budget’s rejection. The goal, Sentonas said, was to achieve the greatest possible consensus so that the budget can receive Parliament’s approval as soon as possible.

In his statement, Sentonas added that both Petrides and Emilianides briefed political party leaders at length on the amendments which have been made in the budget in line with their proposals and the dialogue which took place.

The discussion during the meeting, he noted, took place in a constructive climate while acknowledging the different approaches expressed.