Filenews 8 July 2024
The 2025 state budget will be in surplus, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said today at the opening of the Council of Ministers.
Addressing the members of the Council of Ministers, at the beginning of the meeting of the Council of Ministers this morning, at the Presidential Palace, the President of the Republic said that "today, the special meeting concerns the budget for 2025.
Specifically, the President of the Republic at the beginning of the meeting of the Council of Ministers said that following the approval of the strategic framework 2025-2028, today begins the discussion at our level on the 2025 budget.
The president said that "You remember when we approved the strategic framework, I asked you specifically to see in detail the budget of each Ministry, I asked you to categorize inelastic, operating expenditure, which cannot be avoided, and to look at social and development expenditures. All these things that concern the everyday life of the people, of the society that is our priority."
He also said he was pleased that when he had asked for the development part of the budget to be matched, "with the priorities we promised to the people, the actions included in our election program. I have said it many times, our social contract with the people, what we promised, we are here to implement it and I am very pleased that the implementation of what we have said is at a fairly high level. The priorities of each Ministry must be perfectly aligned with the budget ceilings."
2025 budget in surplus
The President said that the budget will certainly be in surplus, there is no question that it will not be in surplus.
He also said that "Based on the discussion we will have and where we will end up, there will be another discussion, it is quite an important issue, I will follow last year's practice of February 29 in 2024, and in early 2025 we will present to the world what we will do in 2025. It goes without saying that before the end of March 2025 I will go back to society directly to say all this, the 88 actions, I remember them very well, that we promised for 2024, which ones were implemented, if there are any that was not implemented then why was it not implemented and more. This is within the framework of accountability to society, to the people, for the need for direct contact and you will do the same in your Ministries with separate press conferences. The budget of any government sends the mark of priorities."
The five-year programme and digitalisation
With the President's reference that a pre-election program that has been implemented over five years, other needs arise along the way, some facts which of course we take into account. He noted that it is important, however, that some emblematic actions that I want in the second half of 2024 – but also throughout 2025, there are some policies – to place particular emphasis on, for example, the digital transformation of the state.
He noted that "We had a special meeting, the Deputy Minister informed us. The implementation of the digital transformation, which concerns all of us horizontally, is a priority and we cannot accept any delay on this issue."
Bold reforms. They must be done. The state was founded in 1960, today we are in 2024, we cannot operate in 1960s terms. Within the framework of bold reforms, yes, do not expect everyone to be satisfied with what we are promoting. We are here, if we believe that it is for the good of society, if we believe that the daily life of the citizen will improve, not to clash with anyone. Of course we will discuss beforehand within the framework of the public consultation with those affected, but under no circumstances do I want political or any other costs to be taken into account. We are here first and foremost for society.
Green transition in the spotlight
On the green transition, the President said, "I said it the day before yesterday, in September I expect specific suggestions. It is an issue that we must address. With policies that are part of our political philosophy, which is social liberalism."
Our triptych for a strong economy
"A strong economy based on the triptych we take decisions: fiscal responsibility, a strong financial system and bold reforms, so that we can at the same time make social policy, on the one hand targeted at those in need and secondly on issues that we as a state have an obligation to, such as education and health, are high on our priorities. But at the same time in the messiah order of our country. The middle class, which over time kept the economy going, was the backbone of the Cypriot economy and society," President noted.
Finally, he said that "this is what we start with. I want us to be very specific, specific and not general policies that we want to implement in 2025. I want to listen to the three or four emblematic policies and on the basis of these emblematic ones that are in our election programme, to build our budget. A budget, which – I say right now – will be in surplus."
