The consolidated and state budget in the first eight months of this year was 98.5% fulfilled in terms of incomes and there is no gap in the budget, said Minister of Finance Anatol Arapu, commenting on the assertions of his predecessor Veaceslav Negruta.
“The problem is that the costs are not covered on time, according to plan, especially as regards the spending for investment projects, both those financed with budget money and those financed with foreign funds. The tender contests to purchase materials and works are held with delay. The utilization of the available financial resources remains a topical issue,” stated the minister.
Anatol Arapu also said that the three mobile service providers already paid the taxes for the licenses issued to them recently (the equivalent in Moldovan lei of €62.5 million, e.n.). Thus, there are money for covering the most important costs, including for raising the salaries of teachers and other categories of budget-funded employees. The Government will propose amendments to the 2014 state budget so that the agricultural producers receive the promised compensations.
The minister noted that he does not see where that gap of 8.5 billion lei could appear from in the budget by this yearend, as Negruta stated. As to the financial situation forecast for next year, Arapu said the budget law for 2015 was drafted and will be presented soon. There is yet another problem. The bans imposed by Russia on the import of Moldovan products will be felt next year and many economic entities will be unable to pay taxes. The situation in the region will also affect the state of affairs in Moldova.
Recently, former minister of finance Veaceslav Negruta, who worked in the pro-European Cabinet, published on his blog an analysis saying a hole of about 8.5 billion lei is being formed in the country’s budget, similar to that of 2009, when the current government came to power. In an interview, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said these figures are exaggerated, but the Ministry of Finance should however provide accurate data.
