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Relevant bill No. 3279-d was backed by 252 MPs as a basis, as well as by 249 MPs as a whole with the required minimum of 226 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, has passed amendments to the 2020 state budget of Ukraine, which are necessary to take action against the COVID-19 coronavirus and suggesting a threefold increase in budget deficit, up to UAH 298 billion (US$10.9 billion).
Relevant bill No. 3279-d was backed by 252 MPs as a basis, as well as by 249 MPs as a whole with the required minimum of 226 votes, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
According to the text of the bill posted on the parliament's website, after the amendments are enforced, the state budget revenues will amount to UAH 975.8 billion (US$35.8 billion), expenses – to UAH 1.266 trillion (US$46.5 billion), the deficit margin – to UAH 298.4 billion (US$10.9 billion), and public debt – to UAH 2.387 trillion (US$87.7 billion).
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Presenting the project, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called the financing of the coronavirus response measures its priority, including an increase in medical expenses by UAH 16.4 billion (US$602.9 million), pension provision by UAH 29.7 billion (US$1.09 billion), and social expenses by UAH 19.5 billion (US$716.9 million).
At the same time, he emphasized the updated project provides for financing important expenses for the economy, including the Road Fund in the amount of UAH 72 billion (US$2.6 billion), support programs for regions and farmers, culture, education, as well as financing of the Army in the previous volumes.
The prime minister also said the Coronavirus Response Fund would amount to UAH 64.7 billion (US$2.3 billion). "These are additional payments to health workers who save Ukrainians, purchase of medical equipment, payments to Ukrainians who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus, provision of financial assistance to families of health workers," Shmyhal said.
In turn, on behalf of the Budget Committee, MP Oleksandr Trukhin urged the lawmakers to pass the bill as a basis and as a whole as a law. "We consider this project balanced and fully consistent with the goals and objectives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The government will be able to fulfill it. We urge you to support this draft budget," he said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, a bill amending the Law of Ukraine on the 2020 national budget was registered in parliament on April 11.
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Earlier, the parliament's budget committee approved draft amendments to this year's budget.