2012 budget debate underway

Parliament started this afternoon the three-day debate on the 2012 state budget, with a vote expected late on Thursday.

Tomorrow morning, parliament will discuss additional measures to shore up the economy, agreed between the government and parties on December 2.

The measures include a two-year freeze of the public payroll and contributions by private sector workers.

Discussion of the 2012 budget will continue on Wednesday afternoon.

House President Yiannakis Omirou said every effort will be made to vote on the budget on Thursday but if not, the process will conclude on Friday morning.

The state budget for 2012 foresees income, excluding loans, of €6,220 million compared to 2011 revised income of €5,648 million.

The total expenses provided for in the budget, excluding loan payments, come to €7,541 million compared to €8,016 million budgeted for 2011.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.