On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the three-year budget to the lower house of parliament (Duma), which seeks macroeconomic stability amid the special military operation in Ukraine.
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“You are called upon to pay special attention to matters of state importance such as strengthening the country’s defense and doing everything for our victory, by supporting the defenders of the fatherland and their families,” he said.
“We must support our regions, their fiscal sustainability and tax base. We must also back overall economic development, steady and long-term growth, and the launch of a new investment cycle.”
“Resources must be carefully calculated and our capabilities balanced against current priorities and strategic goals. While maintaining macroeconomic stability, all national projects and federal programs must be financed,” Putin stressed.
The Russian leader, who last attended the Duma in 2020, opened the ninth legislative session, where the ruling United Russia party holds a majority with 349 out of 450 seats.
Besides focusing on the budget, Putin gave a special welcome to the 10% of deputies who are war veterans and to those elected for the first time in Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the regions that have formally joined the Federation.
“The important thing is not to make mistakes. Mistakes, especially now, are absolutely unacceptable,” he said, emphasizing that the budget must be realistic and maintain macroeconomic stability, which guarantees the fulfillment of social programs.
“Your attention must always be focused on improving our citizens’ living standards and quality of life. This includes employment, healthcare and education, the environment and culture – everything that matters to people. After all, the authorities’ effectiveness, including at the legislative level, is determined by how they respond to society’s demands and voters’ instructions,” the Russian leader said, as reported by TASS.
Putin also appealed to patriotism and called for “solidary and consolidated support from all parties and deputies” on vital matters, since “all of us are supporters of the most important thing: the pursuit of success, security and the flourishing of our fatherland.”
“The unity of our society is a faithful guarantee that together we will achieve all the objectives we have set for ourselves. We will guarantee for many generations the security and sovereignty of Russia. So it will be, I am completely sure of it,” he proclaimed.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: TASS – EFE – RT
