At the request of the International Monetary Fund, the Verkhovna Rada must adopt the budget for next year by the end of December. Optimists hope that this will happen this week.
According to pessimistic expectations, it will happen on the 15th or 16th December. This was announced by the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Oleksandr Korniyenko, at a discussion organised by LB.ua and EFI Group’s project New Country.
He reminded the audience that the state’s finances are currently highly dependent on the IMF, which serves as a benchmark for other partners.
“There may be enough votes now. There is only a discussion on education, which will determine whether there will be 260 or 240 votes,” Korniyenko commented.
He added that it is now necessary to unblock the work of the Verkhovna Rada, which has been blocked by the Eurosolidarity faction. Consultations are being held with its representatives, including members of the government team.
Korniyenko believes that it is possible to vote on the budget without forming a new coalition, which the opposition insists on.
He also noted that the vacant positions in the Cabinet of Ministers — Minister of Justice and Minister of Energy — could be filled quickly, as could any others if necessary.
“If this happens, we will make a quick decision. On Monday, we will make an announcement; on Wednesday, we will vote —perhaps even sooner,” he said.