DILI, 09 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The opposition bench of the National Parliament questioned the capacity of the Government in executing the 2022 State General Budget (SGB).
“The execution rate of the 2022 General State Budget is very low. As of monday (7/11), the execution rate was only 41%. I, therefore, questioned the proposed $3.2 billion for the 2023 State General Budget. I think it has no logic,” The vice president of CNRT party, Patrocínio Fernandes made the comments at the National Parliament, yesterday.
Fernandes noted that most government leaders will be participating in political parties campaigns in april next year for the parliamentary elections and will not be available to work in their respective ministries: Therefore, this will affect the execution of the 2023 State Budget.”
“It is unreasonable for the Government to ask for a large amount (US$3.2 billion) in the 2023 State Budget proposal,” he said.
MP Virgínia Ana Belo also considered that the execution capacity of the current Government’s budget is very low: “The Government leaders made it clear to the members of Parliament during the public budget hearing that the Government is not concerned with the quality of the execution rate, but with the quality of the projects.”
She said the government needs to be aware of its budget execution capacity and therefore it is not convenient to ask for a large amount in the proposal for the 2023 State Budget.
“The Government has not executed the current budget properly, causing an increase in food prices and not investing in job creation. Consequently, many young people are looking for work abroad,” she argued.
Adriano do Nascimento, a member of the Democratic Party also said that the 2022 State General Budget did not give hope to the people and the country: “The data showed that the execution rate of the 2022 State General Budget was only 41%,” he said.
On the other hand, the Head of the KHUNTO party, Olinda Guterres, defended the Government with an argument that the execution of the budget was focused on quality: “If the execution of the budget is not reached its target, then the budget would be returned to the State coffers.”
Finance Minister Rui Gomes asked MPs not to focus on the low budget execution rate, saying it was necessary to have a look at the impact of policy execution through indicators of progress and governance success.
“You cannot just look at the percentage of budget execution. I suggest that MPs need to have a look at the impacts of the budget execution,” he concluded.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
