The Moscow City Duma adopted the capital’s budget in three readings without amendments from opposition factions

Moscow City Duma (MGD) on Wednesday accepted in three readings at once the law on the capital’s budget for 2024 and the planning period 2025–2026. The accelerated review procedure, already tested in 2022, was proposed by United Russia (UR), A Just Russia (SR) and the My Moscow parliamentary association, and they ensured that the document passed all readings. All 34 amendments introduced by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and Yabloko within 10 minutes right during the meeting were rejected by the majority. The share of social expenditures in the budget for 2024 exceeds 50%.

The Moscow City Duma first tried an accelerated discussion of the city budget in 2022 against the backdrop of an unstable international situation and large-scale anti-Russian sanctions. The parliamentary majority proposed a similar format for the new budget the day before, on November 21. “A lengthy discussion of the draft budget is not beneficial for Moscow and Muscovites,” explained the Chairman of the Moscow City Duma Alexey Shaposhnikov (ER) and invited other factions to join the initiative.

Last year’s experience was also recalled by Elena Zyabbarova, head of the Moscow government’s finance department who presented the project, noting that the budget was formed “under conditions of severe sanction pressure.” However, she made a reservation, if then economic uncertainty dominated officials, today it is clear that “the Moscow economy has adapted to new conditions” and “returned to a trajectory of sustainable growth.”

“The presented draft law on the budget of Moscow ensures the fulfillment of all existing social obligations to Muscovites, provides for the amount of funds necessary for the functioning and development of the city,” stated Elena Zyabbarova, clarifying that more than 600 billion rubles are provided for the provision of social support measures in 2024. and they will affect about 4.5 million Muscovites.

In general, budget revenues in 2024 will amount to 4.3 trillion rubles, in 2025 – almost 4.6 trillion, in 2026 – about 4.9 trillion, and expenses, respectively, are almost 4.8 trillion, about 5 trillion and more than 5.1 trillion rubles. The share of social expenditures in the 2024 budget exceeds 50%.

The official’s optimism was shared by the chairman of the relevant commission of the Moscow City Duma, Lyudmila Guseva, recalling, however, that the sanctions have not gone away, and therefore “the timely adoption of the budget seems obvious and necessary.” The leader of the United Russia faction, Stepan Orlov, added that United Russia had been working on budget parameters all year, summing up the orders of voters and expert opinions. The party members systematically forwarded the accumulated baggage to officials, and when the draft document appeared in their hands, “they were convinced that the overwhelming majority of the proposals” were integrated there, the deputy reported.

The Socialist Revolutionaries managed to convey their wishes for the budget to the mayor’s office, their leader in the Moscow City Duma, Magomet Yandiev, boasted: “As I see it, our amendments are there, and this characterizes the budget positively – we will support it without amendments from the faction.” “The budget is balanced in terms of income and expenses,” Elena Nikolaeva, head of the My Moscow association, praised the document. She expressed confidence that the “early adoption” of the budget will give “the opportunity and time for all city structures to begin its implementation.”

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation and Yabloko remained in the minority with the opposite opinion.

The communists took turns criticizing what they considered to be underfunded social items, pointing out the dynamics of rising costs that prevailed over income, and suggested that all “inflationary problems” would be solved by rising prices for goods and services. “The draft budget is focused on the previous socio-economic course, which does not fully meet today’s tasks,” complained faction leader Nikolai Zubrilin. “The Communist Party of the Russian Federation will not be able to support it due to a decrease in funding for social programs.”

Yabloko members also complained about the insufficiently “social” nature of the project, but they were more outraged by the accelerated adoption of the document without discussion by commissions (besides the specialized one). “There is a reference to some extraordinary circumstances, but I assure you: when the ‘circumstances’ end, this practice will take root,” predicted Yabloko leader Maxim Kruglov. “You can go further and decide that in emergency circumstances no thought is needed, “No deputies are needed; the executive branch itself can handle city issues just fine.”

“How many meetings of the Yabloko faction took place on the issue of discussing budget items or the entire budget and who did you invite from the representative authorities?” – Alexey Shaposhnikov fought off these arguments. “Knowing the tradition of Moscow officials to ignore our initiatives, we do not waste our time,” Yabloko did not give up. “But I was a participant in the meeting of United Russia and My Moscow, where the executive branch was present. Therefore, dear colleagues, gather factions, invite representatives of the executive branch, they come for a normal dialogue,” the speaker admonished his colleague.

The opposition was given 10 minutes to amend the draft, which passed the first reading without any problems (28 votes to 15). Together, the communists and Yabloko members introduced 34 amendments, which, despite the request of Elena Zyabbarova, were voted on individually. None of them, however, were accepted. In the second and third readings, the Moscow City Duma approved the budget with the same 28 votes in favor and 15 against.

Grigory Leiba