President, Rada Continue To Lock Horns Over Budget

The Rada voted to send another draft of the 2007 Budget to the President yesterday. Nick Piazza: The changes to this version of the budget still fail to meet most of Yushchenko’s demands concerning social spending and it is likely to be shot down again. The battle with the budget is clearly an attempt by Yushchenko to remind the government that though his powers have diminished some he still has his veto. Look for there to be a great deal of talk about a “political crisis” if the new budget isn’t signed by New Year, but look for business to carry on as usual using the 2006 budget guidelines until the President and Prime Minister find middle ground.