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Turkish Parliament debates 2014 budget

Turkish lawmakers' debate continues on Wednesday over the 2014 fiscal policy and Central Government Budget in the Parliament

10.12.2013 - Update : 10.12.2013
Turkish Parliament debates 2014 budget

ANKARA
 
Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, presenting the 2014 fiscal policy and Central Government Budget in the Parliament on Tuesday, said that Turkey has recorded a  GDP of 1.7 trilion Turkish Liras, while she recorded 262 billion in importation (CIF), 166.5 billion liras in exportation (FOB), a growth rate of 4 %, a deflector of 6 % and CPI 5.3 %. 

Stating that they have prepared the Budget for middle range fiscal policy goals, Finance Minister Simsek described the goals as "decreasing the current deficit by increasing the savings, directing the existing sources to productive areas; sustaining the strong standing of public finance; and increasing growth and recruitment." 

Simsek also said that they estimate the budget expenses for 2014 fiscal year as 436.4 billion liras, interests free expenses as 384 billion liras, while budget income for 2014 as 403.2 billion, tax incomes 348.4 billion liras, budget deficit 33.3 billion liras and non-interest surplus 18.7 billion liras. 

The Finance Minister said that they aim to realize budget expenses percentage in GDP at 25.4 %; non-interest expenses at 22.4 %; budget income at 23.5 %, tax income at 20.3 %; budget defict at 1.9 % and non-interest surplus at 1.1 %.

In his presentation, Simsek also said that they have allocated 78.5 billion liras for education, 16.9 billion of which is for universities.

  

- Turkish PM Erdogan says if a political party publicly supports the violence on streets, expects benefits from its political outcomes and even its deputies throw stones at the security forces, it does not respect this assembly, the dignity of politics and parliament.

 Turkish Prime Minister and Justice and Development (AK) Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that if a political party publicly supports the violence on streets, expects benefits from its political outcomes and even its deputies throw stones at the security forces, it does not respect "this assembly, the dignity of politics and parliament." 

Erdogan also spoke on Tuesday at parliamentary session held on Central Government Budget for 2014 fiscal year and Central Goverment Budget Final Account for 2012 fiscal year.  

Stating that the parliament is the actual place where the problems of Turkey get discussed and decided on, Erdogan said that no individual, group, people or insitution can direct Turkey other than the parliament.

"We should be aware that the impact of terrorism on politics does not only stem from the weapons of the terrorists but it also stems from the politicians with intention to benefit from it," said Erdogan stating that Turkey could not create a common will for the solution of terrorism in Turkey and ruling parties have always avoided to take the risk while AK Party stood against all risks and tries to resolve the ongoing terrorism in Turkey that has been continuing for 30 years.  

Erdogan also said that terrorism has been a tool for election in Turkey.  "Recent provocative events in the eastern cities of Turkey target the popular will and peace in Turkey and more importantly the local election process," added Turkish PM Erdogan.

Elaborating on the development in Turkish economy and the role that Turkey plays in international arena, Erdogan said that Turkey has recorded a sum over 2.5 billion dollars in donation for international aid and development. Erdogan added that Turkey has been with the people exposed to oppression and disasters in the world with her insitutions such as Turkish Airlines (THY), Turkish Radio and TV (TRT), Anadolu Agency (AA), and Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA).   

"The Turkish flag, Turkish Red crescent, and the logo of TIKA, THY, TRT and AA carry the meaning of brotherhood, friendliness and compassion," also said Erdogan.

 

- Opposition criticizes budget plan of ruling AK Party Government- Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition party, accused the government of being unable to submit the fiscal reports of the budget.- 

  Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition party, accused the government of being unable to submit the fiscal reports of the budget and claimed that the reason for its inability was corruption which the ruling party tries to conceal. 

Kilicdaroglu spoke in the Turkish Parliament on the Budget for Central Government for 2014 fiscal year and said that the government is responsible to disclose all accounts to the parliament and blamed the Court of Accounts for not preparing the required reports in time.

Kilicdaroglu added that the government has extended the due dates for submisson of the Middle Term Fiscal Program from May to September but it could not even live up to the extended program as well. 

Main opposition leader also stated that Turkish industrial productivity has shrinked referring to World Bank data. 

Kilicdaroglu also criticized the foreign and domestic policies of the government and said that the zero problem policy of the government was a failure. 

Hasip Kaplan, spoke on behalf of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and said that the government has spent a lot on defence and security issues instead of social policies such as housing and laboring standards. 

Touching upon the Human Rights Day and the human rights issues in Turkey, Kaplan said that the special courts in Turkey work for oppression.

Referring to the detianed deputies and politicians of BDP, Kaplan said that Hatip Dicle, a deputy of BDP has been in prision for 5 years. Kemal Aktas, another BDP deputy, has been in prison for 5 years while it had been three years that he was released following his sentence for 22 years. 

Kaplan criticized the budget planning of the government and said that the ruling party has allocated a great sum for defense and security and the Court of Accounts does not disclose the expenses. 

Another opposition party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), rejected to speak in this session due to the word "Turkish Kurdistan" in the dissenting-opinion note of BDP in the Budget report.

englishnews@aa.com.tr

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