Poroshenko refuses to sign budget-2019 without increase in funds for grants-in-aid
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says he will not sign the country's budget for 2019 if the government does not increase the funds for subsidies and does not improve the system.
He said this at an annual meeting of the Regional Development Council in Kyiv on Monday, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
"In the context of tariffs, there are urgent tactical tasks that need to be solved within months and weeks. I talked to the government, and my principled position is to protect people, improve and expand the subsidy system, and raise funds for its implementation [...] It's necessary to fully provide with subsidies those who really need them. This is my main requirement for the budget for 2019. If it is not taken into account when the state budget is prepared for the second reading, then I will do what I have never done before - I will simply not sign the budget," Poroshenko said.
He also called on regional state administrations, city and village heads to engage in improving the subsidy system.
"Those who save energy and use the amount lower than required by law have the right to get money for the difference saved. 1,300,000 households already use this opportunity, and the government should continue to expand it," the president said.
Poroshenko also stressed that decentralization reform is far from complete, but is one of those positive results that society has already seen.
