Turkish parliament approves 2020 budget

Turkey newly approved 2020 budget includes increased spending on defense and military needs. (AFP)

• Budget sees increased spending on defense projects and military needs
• President Tayyip Erdogan says move key step in reaching his government’s 2023 goals for Turkey

ANKARA: Turkey’s parliament has approved the government’s 2020 budget, which includes increased defense spending and forecasts a budget deficit of 138.9 billion lira ($23.4 billion).
The 2020 budget, which state-run Anadolu news agency said was passed with 329 votes in favor to 159 votes against, also projects increased spending on health and education, and foresees a rise in budget revenues. It also sees increased spending on defense projects and military needs.
In 2019, the government forecasts the year-end budget deficit to be at 80.6 billion lira. Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said in July that the 2019 budget deficit-to-GDP ratio will be below 3 percent, despite a slowdown in income.
In September, Turkey raised its economic growth forecast to an ambitious 5 percent for 2020, and lowered its inflation outlook to 8.5 percent, as the government planned a relatively quick rebound from recession that manages not to stretch the budget.
In a presentation detailing the economic plan, Albayrak, who is President Tayyip Erdogan’s son-in-law, said at the time that the budget will be used to finance what he called a production-based transformation of the economy.
Erdogan, who posted an audio message on social media after parliament passed the 2020 budget, said the move was a key step in reaching his government’s 2023 goals for Turkey.