Despite disagreements among government parties, the adoption of this year's budget is not in jeopardy. This is asserted by politicians, public media report.
From the perspective of voting discipline, there will be no problems, despite the fact that for two consecutive weeks this autumn, opposition deputies could not secure a majority in voting on individual issues. However, while the government does not face significant problems in adopting the state budget for the next year, such issues may theoretically arise in parliament.
Just recently, the Saeima needed three attempts to pass the "On Pollution" bill, during which the opposition twice disrupted the quorum. Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens ("New Unity") is confident that this will not happen with the budget - the necessary votes will be gathered.
"There are no major doubts this time, as the budget has two very important components without political struggle and competition. The second is the security component, the main essence of which, it seems to me, the deputies of the Saeima also understand," the minister stated.
If in recent years the budget consideration in the Saeima has often been more of a technical process, where an absolute majority of opposition proposals were rejected, this year the situation may not be so straightforward. The Union of Greens and Farmers (UGF) has committed to submit additional proposals and does not rule out supporting opposition ideas.
"Last year, opposition proposals from all factions were supported. I do not rule out that this year may have a similar situation. We will be able to decide this in the process," said Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis (UGF).
This may potentially shake the already fragile coalition. When asked whether the "Progressives" believe there is a future for this coalition after the budget is adopted, the head of the parliamentary faction of the "Progressives" Andris Šuvajev replied: "I think no one will give a completely clear answer to this question. And from my point of view, at the moment, this is a political context, quite saturated regarding both the so-called Istanbul Convention and the budget. We will accomplish these two tasks, and then we will see further."
