Government not to support MPs' budget proposals - PM Karins

RIGA - The government will not support the proposals submitted by lawmakers ahead of the last reading of Latvia's 2023 budget bills, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) told journalists following the weekly coalition meeting on Monday.

The prime minister indicated that the government would review the budget proposals this Tuesday, February 28.

Around 20 of these budget proposals are technical proposals which the government is expected to accept. The budget proposals submitted by Saeima members, however, will be rejected, Karins said. 

As reported, the Saeima on February 17 supported in principle the bill on the government budget for 2023 and budget framework for 2023, 2024 and 2025, according to which the consolidated budget revenue is planned at EUR 12.721 billion and expenditure at EUR 14.673 billion. Compared to the 2022 budget, in 2023 revenue is expected to grow by EUR 2.025 billion and expenditure - by EUR 2.233 billion.

It is planned to hold the final reading of the budget on March 8 and it would come into force on April 1, said the budget committee chairman Janis Reirs (New Unity) earlier.