VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
“We are entering a very important period of forming the 2013-2015 budget. The priorities that we will put into it will determine the quality of life of our people, as well as economic and social growth. As a matter of fact, the budget for the next three years will become the financial basis for the strategic programme that we proposed to our society and that was approved by millions.”
“One of the most important goals of the federal budget over the next three years will be ensuring the country’s post-crisis development, creating conditions to modernise the Russian economy, building a stable infrastructure and improving Russia’s defence capabilities and security.”
“If we do not want to sequester the budget tomorrow, as some developed market economies are currently doing, which would deprive people of the most necessary things, would require us to take painful measures and to reject those citizens who are entitled to government support – if we do not want to do this, we should not inflate our spending today. We need to be very careful about this.”
“When we began to draft the federal budget, we decided that it should be a development-oriented budget. We therefore prioritised government spending for the years to come. Our top priorities will be future-oriented research, introducing innovations, infrastructure support to boost economic growth, and promoting small and medium-sized businesses. Certainly, we will focus on investments in development and in the wellbeing of Russian families. The state will meet all of its social obligations to the nation.”
“The balance between revenues and spending remains the top priority in federal finances. We will have a deficit-free budget this year even, despite our cautious projections at the start of the year. We expect this year’s federal revenues and expenditures to be around 11 trillion roubles each. The Russian economy is projected to fully overcome the consequences of the economic downturn by the beginning of next year and to continue to grow, providing stable revenues to the federal treasury.”
“The economic background was positive during these months. Russia’s GDP was up 3.9% as compared to the same period last year. The inflation rate was 5% during the first six months. <…> Russia’s trade surplus increased. Russian exports exceeded imports by $101.7 billion over the first six months of 2011. <…> Real wages are also up 2.4% in Russia. The unemployment rate is down to 7% from 8.1% in the first six months of 2010. The federal budget performance results have exceeded our expectations”.
"By expanding access to opportunities for work and increasing the mobility of disabled people, the state is in no way relieving itself of its commitment to provide them with comprehensive support <…>. We have increased disability pensions by 8.8% since February 1, and social benefits by 10.3% since April 1."
"I haven’t the slightest doubt that we will regain the pre-crisis level by the end of this year or the middle of next year, and come close to a balanced budget. The Finance Ministry forecasts a budget deficit for another several years, proceeding from objective factors. However, I have every reason to think that we will put an end to it sooner and increase funding. This is a passing problem".
“Starting in 2013, most federal allocations will be distributed among specific targeted programmes. Budgetary funds will be channelled into government programmes in sectors crucial to our national development. I want to stress that we do not have in mind a formal redistribution of funds. The idea is to rethink the principles guiding government agencies’ work in order for them to perform their duties more responsibly, as well as to ensure that monetary allocations, along with regulatory mechanisms, taxes and customs duties, produce the desired results.”
“We have to accomplish a number of highly important objectives in the sphere of defence and law enforcement. Interior Ministry divisions will be financed completely from the federal budget starting with 2012. <…> Pay grades will be raised in two stages. First, this raise will encompass Defence Ministry military personnel, Interior Troops and Interior Ministry operatives. The pay grades of other security agencies personnel will be raised subsequently. Retired military personnel will see a one-time increase in pensions in 2012, regardless of their departmental affiliation.”
“We plan to increase federal budget allocations to healthcare. We will allocate 500 billion roubles for this purpose in 2012, which is nearly 7% more than this year. <…> We will also continue to increase maternity capital. We will index it, just as we planned to do when we first introduced this allowance. Maternity capital currently stands at 365,700 roubles; it will be increased to 430,000 in 2014. <…> In 2012, we will double subsidies to regions for the support of preschool education to 2 billion roubles. Furthermore, we plan to issue a 8-billion-rouble loan to Russian regions for the further development and modernisation of childcare establishments.”
“We are getting additional opportunities for resolving long-term strategic objectives. In this sense, the submitted budget is a development budget designed to stimulate quality growth and modernise the economy. At the same time, this is a socially-oriented budget with a direct emphasis on improving living standards and implementing large-scale programmes in demography, healthcare, education and pensions. Needless to say, these issues remain at the top of our list of social priorities.”
“Russia continues to see growth across all key industries. By 2012, we should fully offset the effects of the crisis. <…> We will need to adopt our first genuinely post-crisis budget and shift our focus to long-term goals.”
“The 2012 budget should provide for drastic increases in payments to servicemen and the implementation of a national armament programme. Let me reiterate: budget funding should invariably reach specific enterprises of this sphere in full and in due time. Please monitor these issues at all times.”
“When we make provisions for such major spending, it’s important to follow a stringent and responsible budget policy. We cannot stray from our course on compensating for the budget shortfall. We should strive to keep a balance of revenue and expenses.”
“Budget investment should not be based on cost estimates, like it was in previous decades, in accordance with a very simple and primitive logic and formula whereby every year we must spend more than in the previous year. Budget outlays must be matched by real improvements. The people must feel it in their daily life when they deal with government institutions.”
“As part of the new budget structure, we must set priorities more clearly, focus on key projects for social, economic, scientific, and technological development, and ensure the fulfillment of our programmes in national security and defence.”
“The government will approve the terms and parameters of social and economic development for 2012 – 2014 and the guidelines of tax and customs policy no later than late April or early May. In June, we will have to decide on the key aspects of the federal budget, including volumes of revenues and expenses and limits on the budget deficit. The budget must be submitted to the State Duma no later than October 1. We will be drafting the main financial statement as transparently as possible, as we always do. We will attract deputies of the State Duma and members of the Federation Council to this work.”
“Over the next few years, we'll need to resolve the problem of the federal budget deficit. This must be done by 2015, or even earlier if possible. We also need to increase the return on each rouble we provide. And we have adopted a programme to increase the effectiveness of public spending. In 2012 we will adopt new principles for drafting the federal budget on the basis of long-term state programmes.”
“As you know, the GDP will be 50.4 trillion roubles and the level of inflation is expected to be 6.5%. We think the budget deficit will be about 3.6% next year. Budget revenues will amount to 8.8 trillion roubles and expenses to 10.7 trillion roubles. We would really like to stay within these parameters and avoid increasing the budget deficit. It is a very important indicator that points to the stability of our economy. In this respect, we stand out from many of the so-called developed market economies of the world. There is no doubt that this is a self-made competitive advantage for us.”
