Draft 2007 budget gets hostile response from Lepper

Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper wants to increase expenditure on the most urgent needs, namely an additional zl.4 billion for agriculture, almost zl.3.7 billion for social assistance, zl.2 billion for the health service and zl.1.66 billion for education. "If the budget for 2007 is as it was prepared by Finance Minister Stanislaw Kluza, it will be worse than this year's budget," stated Lepper. "We will not accept it. The best solution in such a situation will be early elections," he added. The Finance Minister stated that, "There is no chance for higher revenues next year so there will be no funds to fulfill the demands of Self-Defense." He added that earlier assumed revenues may be lower by zl.1 billion due to uncertain revenues from excise duties and direct taxes. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) E.B.