Menu

Now Reading
Greek lawmakers to vote on first budget since exiting bailout programs

Menu

Greek lawmakers to vote on first budget since exiting bailout programs

greece 2019 budget vote
greece 2019 budget vote
Photo: Getty

Today, lawmakers in Athens will vote on next year’s proposed budget—the first since the debt-saddled country exited bailout programs in August.

Although the Greek economy seems to have finally escaped the downward spiral that consumed markets over the past five years, it still lies in a precarious position. Unemployment remains high at 18.6%, and banks continue to be crippled by bad loans.

Additionally, the country’s GDP will likely fall short of its 2.7% growth goal this year due to Athens’ decision to curb spending as part of a deal to secure easier future loan repayments. While reductions in pension payments were originally planned, they were recently cut from the budget after major protests.

While this decision will give relief to working-class Greeks, the planned primary surplus now lies just barely over the benchmark at 3.56%– a rate that it is likely to be maintained until 2022, when Athens’ agreement with its lenders expires. With Greece also struggling to jumpstart its economic growth, watch today’s budget attempt—likely to be passed—to strike a careful balance between financial discipline and fiscal stimulus.

See Also
Argentina runoff presidential election

Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.

View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Scroll To Top