The draft law approving the revised OGE 2020 was approved with 133 votes in favor of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), no votes against and 53 abstentions by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), the Wide Convergence of Salvation of Angola - Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE) and the Social Renewal Party (PRS).
The MPLA, in its explanation of vote, recognized the responsible attitude of the executive, at a time when the revenues initially forecasted started to have a sharp reduction due to the effects of the covid-19 pandemic.
"The executive, in response to the economic and social situation that the country is experiencing, presented the proposal to revise the OGE 2020, in a timely manner, with a more conservative price of a barrel of oil ($ 33), which we consider prudent and real to avoid possible shocks that may arise if there are new vacancies for the covid-19 ", said deputy Ruth Mendes, in her explanation of vote.
Representative Lucas Ngonda, from the FNLA representation, said that he voted in favor, although many issues were not addressed in this budget, because "it is time for Angolans to close ranks to defend life against the cyclical threats, aggravated by the covid-19 ", one of the executive's justifications for the review of the OGE 2020, estimated at 13.4 billion kwanzas and with a deficit of 4 percent.
In turn, Daniel Benedito, from PRS, said that the revised budget "is for austerity and little can be expected from it, judging by the time left to end the year".
"We understand, yes, that it will meet the priorities of the priorities, but it is the possible and necessary budget for the country to work, since it adjusts to the current price of a barrel of oil," said Benedito Daniel, who abstained in the vote, also calling attention to the increase to "unsustainable levels" of public debt.
In his explanation of vote, the leader of the CASA-CE parliamentary group, Manuel Fernandes, said that he opted to abstain because the budget would bring difficult days for Angolan families, as a result of the loss of jobs for many citizens, in the face of the lack of indicators to help address this painful situation.
"A budget deficit of around 4 percent of GDP is estimated, which will result in the reduction of net international reserves by many billion US dollars, which will affect the country's balance of payments and a sharp devaluation of the currency. national ", he said, stressing that this budget will increase extreme poverty in the country.
The UNITA parliamentary group considered that the proposed OGE 2020 revision "reflects a succession of historical errors in matters of economic and social policy, maintaining the same vices as in the past".
"For this reason, the UNITA parliamentary group voted to abstain to reaffirm the need for a new approach in the preparation and execution of the State Budget," said Deputy Alcides Sakala, noting that the proposal does not reduce the level of vulnerability of the national economy to price volatility. of oil, the basis for budgeting.
Finance Minister Vera Daves said at the presentation of the document that the revised OGE for 2020 will be financed by 45.5 percent through tax revenues and 54.5 percent through financing.
Vera Daves also said that the revised OGE for 2020 suffered a reduction of 15.7 percent compared to the current budget.
The Angolan official stressed that the financing plan reflects the significant reduction in tax revenues, which contracted close to 30 percent compared to the current OGE.
