AD: Positive budget does not exploit growth opportunities

Green Party Alternattiva Demokratika said that the Budget’s measures were headed in the right direction but that they lacked a long-term impact.

“It’s a half-baked budget. On a social level, the government is leaving people on minimum wage depend on the Budget’s generosity to remain above the poverty line. It is shameful that after 40 years we still have not revised minimum wage,” AD said.

AD said that the recommendation to have pensions at 60% of the national median income was being implemented too slowly.

On the environment, AD said the government was sending conflicting messages. “It acknowledges the traffic problem while talking of infrastructural spending and more parking to make it easier for traffic to increase, not decrease. We cannot agree with the reduction in fuel, which also encourages more car usage. We don’t understand how this will reduce the daily presence of 40 new cars.”

AD welcomed improved economic growth figures, proposals to regenerate UCA properties, and the tax on tourism.

It however said it was scandalous that the Budget had mentioned nothing in terms of water sustainability and the theft of water through illegal boreholes. “There is a clear lack of policy on water conservation and this is a future threat to our country’s sustainability.”

AD also said that the government had not addressed zero-hour contracts to take an effective step against precarious employment.