Africa-Press – Cape verde. Parliament approved this Friday, in general terms, the proposed State Budget for 2025, as well as the resolution approving the National Assembly’s Private Budget.
The proposed State Budget for 2025 received the favourable votes of the 37 MPs from the MpD, while the opposition political forces, the 20 MPs from the PAICV, voted against and two MPs from the UCID abstained.
In his explanation of vote, the leader of the UCID bench, João Santos Luís, stressed that the proposed State Budget for 2025 “should go further” in defending more investment in the various sectors of economic life.
“This budget, from the UCID’s point of view, should have the ability to take advantage of the difficult situation of the crisis experienced in the world to capitalise on some of the added value that we have, above all with regard to the renewable energy potential”, he justified.
As he added, the “lack of vision” for the various state budgets presented to the parliamentary house has not allowed the country’s potential for enrichment to be taken advantage of.
In turn, PAICV deputy António Fernandes stated that this political force voted against the State Budget for 2025 because it is electoralist and that it is directed towards public spending that will not benefit Cape Verdeans at all.
“We voted against a Budget that increases the public debt stock to 312 million contos from one year to the next. The increase was almost 7 million contos. The internal public debt reaches 104.5 million contos, representing 33% of the GDP”, he argued, recalling that, according to the Public Finance Council, from 2024 to 2025, the share of public spending in the GDP is expected to increase from 30% to 33%.”
According to him, this is a budget that leaves the country “more in debt” and that leaves companies with serious financing problems due to the high interest rates in the market.
For the MPD parliamentary leader, Celso Ribeiro, his party voted in favor of the 2025 Budget because it “focuses on growth and economic stability” for the next year.
“We voted in favor because during the debate it was proven that we have a good Budget, which was drawn up with a focus on people, companies and, given the unpredictable situation, war in Ukraine and the Middle East, which will reduce debt, unemployment and poverty”, he stressed.
The deputy also added that the 2025 budget assumes the country’s commitments, namely the payment of debts and that it foresees an increase in growth and revenue.
The resolution approving the National Assembly’s Private Budget was also approved in general terms, with 39 votes in favour, two from the MpD and three from the UCID, no votes against and 20 abstentions from the PAICV.
The National Assembly’s Private Budget for 2025, approved today in the parliamentary house, presents an increase of 195,224,929 escudos, 19.31% compared to 2024, of which the vast majority is allocated to operating expenses.
The amount of 205 million 618 thousand and 129 escudos is reserved for the external bodies of Parliament, 15.1% of this amount, in a sector that increases by 3.8% compared to the previous year, due to the increase of 18.9% allocated to the Ombudsman’s Office.
The State budget for 2025, approved today in general terms, is 98 billion escudos, and focuses on job creation, economic growth and social inclusion.
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