Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is categorically against the submission to parliament of bills on changes to the budget by anyone other than the Cabinet.

The Premier stated this during a briefing, commenting on information that BYuT deputies spoke in support of recalling the President’s bill on budget changes submitted to the Verkhovna Rada.

“All of the President’s proposals on changes to the 2008 budget – all those that we can consider and that the budget balance allows, will be considered. But, we are categorically against anyone, be it the President, Premier, ministers, deputies or speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, violating the Constitutions and law of Ukraine. Ukrainian laws do not envisage the submission of alternative draft budget laws,” stressed Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko believes that the President submitted this draft document in order to disrupt the budget process. She is convinced that the budget committee should only review the government version of the bill, which should be immediately approved by parliament.

Tymoshenko did note that the government did not include three of the President’s proposals: to postpone increasing the minimum wage, to not increase funds for payments to Oshchadbank depositors, and to increase financing for the Ministry of Defense.