Armenian Parliament members showed great imagination when, at news briefings in Parliament, they qualified the 2011 draft budget as social, post-crisis, realistic, optimistic and – a failure.

However, only three parliamentary forces voiced their opinions on the document: the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the Country of Law are for the document, whereas the opposition party Heritage is against it. The Heritage Party stated it has submitted about 90 proposals concerning the draft budget and is not waiting for the Government’s answer.

The Country of Law Party submitted a number of proposals, particularly ones concerning maternity benefits. The party demands benefits to the women who did not work before having children. It also underlined the importance of school and road construction. The party’s general assessment of the draft budget is positive.

Galust Sahakyan, Head of the RPA parliamentary faction, commended the document, trying to respond to the criticism by the Opposition, particularly by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). “All of us are well aware that the international crisis accounts for numerous problems. The ARF is the only force that has not so far realized it,” Sahakyan said. He stressed that the ruling parties would be happy if pensions and wages were high in Armenia. “We are immediately responsible for that, and we would raise wages and pensions at the first opportunity,” Sahakyan said.

The other ruling party, Prosperous Armenia, stated its position on the draft budget will depend on the extent the party’s proposals will be incorporated in the final draft. RA Parliament Vice-Speaker Samvel Balasanyan (Prosperous Armenia Party) pointed out the draft budget is a realistic and socially-oriented one. He also reported that the party’s proposals concerning the document particularly deal with small and medium businesses, tourism and agriculture.

The ARF stated that its final position on the document depends on how many of the MPs’ proposals will be incorporated in the draft budget. The party proposes resuming the payment of maternity benefits all through the maternity leave. The party also submitted proposals concerning education, science and industries. The ARF member Artsvik Minasyan pointed out that Armenia will have a more efficient and socially-oriented budget if the party’s proposals are accepted.

On the other hand, he is sure that the Government will not be able to meet the major challenges to the state next year.