The discussion of the 2021 state budget in the parliament is running with a defect

Ninth Convocation of the Parliament is completing the working process by discussing the draft law on the 2021 state budget. The procedures for the initial consideration of the draft budget are in progress with a number of violations, which causes only superficial review of the draft law and fail to ensure the real parliamentary control over the expenditures planned by the government.

The superficial discussion of the draft budget is basically caused by the following circumstances:

1.    The Rules of Procedure of the Parliament sets the obligation for the heads of the sectoral ministries to inform the committees about the parameters of the draft budgets. This obligation was fulfilled only by the Committee of Defense and Security, by hearing the reports of the representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the State Security Service and the Special Protection Service at the meeting of the Committee. In all other cases, the committees did not hear a report from the heads of the sectoral ministries about the expenditure of the state budget. The committees have not assessed how well the government has the right priorities set in a specific field.

2.    Involvement of MPs in the process of discussing the draft budget was minimal. At least half of MPs asked questions or state their position during only three of the ten committee sessions. There were cases when the committee voted on the project without consideration. There was not arisen a question or stated any position on the session of Committee of European Integration. This step is inconsistent with the declared European integration path. The Committee was not interested in whether the funds allocated in the draft budget were adequate for the implementation of the obligations under the Association Agreement with the European Union.

3.    The involvement of the opposition in the proces was low. In 5 cases out of 10 committee discussions, the opposition did not attend the sessions. In other cases, only a few opposition MPs took part in the debates. Out of 5 factions created by political groups, in only one case - the factions created by "European Georgia" - discussed the draft budget. The obligation defined by the regulations was violated by both the majority and the opposition factions.

It is important to ensure maximum involvement and in-depth discussion of the project in the early stages of budget review, taking into account sectoral issues. As a result of the second round of parliamentary elections in 2020, which is very likely to take place, the new convocation of the Parliament will be involved only in the third - final stage of the discussion of the draft budget. At this stage, according to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, committees and factions are no longer involved in the budget drafting process.

Democracy Index - Georgia calls on the Parliament of Georgia to correct the problems of involvement in the later stages of the draft budget. Every MP, parliamentary group or committee, despite of the pre-election context, is obliged perfectly fulfill its constitutional obligation and not allow the elaboration of the state budget and planning of expenditures without proper parliamentary control.