Government Consults with Opposition on 2003 Draft Budget

(Tbilisi, December 30, 2002. Civil Georgia) – The pro-governmental Parliamentary factions and the State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze will hold talks with the opposition on the draft of the 2003 budget, which was rejected by the Parliament last week.
 
116 MPs voted for the adoption of the 2003 draft budget, while 118 votes were needed. 42 MPs were against.

President Shevardnadze at the briefing today criticized opposition for rejecting the budget. He also expressed disappointment towards the pro-governmental Parliamentary factions, which failed to manage to assemble all their members at the Parliamentary session during the voting.

The President urged the MPs to hold the special session in the first days of January to adopt the 2003 budget.