The document was generally approved with a total of 126 votes in favour, six abstentions (FNLA, PRS and CASA-CE) and 36 votes against (UNITA).
Mentioned by Angop, Manuel da Cruz Neto, vice president of the MPLA parliamentary group, justified that his party gave a positive endorsement to the document "because they are true patriots".
"If that were not the case, we, deputies, would not be able to work in the first quarter of next year. We understand that the differences that eventually separate us can be harmonized in the discussions in the specialty", he indicated.
In turn, UNITA MP, Amílcar Campos Colela explained that his party rejected the proposal because "the Government's budget policy will continue to appear irrelevant to the path of budget revenues, as it will continue to be the market of London's future that dictates the course of the Angolan economy via the Brent price".
Also cited by Angop, deputy Benedito Daniel indicated that the abstention from the PRS "means a protest aimed at warning that, in the context of discussion in the specialty, a fruitful debate is allowed in order to advance and overcome what we believe in the document's insufficiencies and limitations, so that we have a balanced budget that satisfies everyone".
João Lourenço, in a message addressed to the National Assembly that was transmitted by the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Manuel Nunes Júnior, underlined the recovery of economic growth, as a response to enable the reduction of unemployment rates and, consequently, increase the income of Angolans.
The President also highlighted that the Government has made efforts to protect the social sector, especially in the areas of Education and Health, referring that these two areas will have their shares increased, compared to this year's budget.
The OGE proposal for next year, which foresees revenues and expenses in the amount of 18.8 billion kwanzas, will now be discussed in the specialty.
