The Assembly of the Republic (AR) resumes today the plenary sessions, after five months of pause, with an agenda that has the approval of the State Budget (OE) 2022 as the highest point of the agenda.

The beginning of the session will be dedicated to speeches by the president of the Assembly of the Republic, Esperança Bias, and the heads of the three parliamentary benches.

In addition to the State Budget for 2022, the 250 members of parliament will also debate next year's Economic and Social Plan (PES).

The State Budget and PES forecast a growth in the economy of 2.9% in 2022, after in 2020 the country contracted by 1.28% because of the covid-19 pandemic.

The documents also forecast an average annual inflation rate of 5.3%, revenues of 293 billion meticais and expenses of 450 billion meticais, or a deficit of 157 billion meticais - about 14% of GDP.

The plenary session that begins today will also debate the proposed laws on the media, on broadcasting, on the rules and criteria that define the remuneration of state employees and agents and other public servants, and on public health.

The agenda also includes the debate of the draft law on the compulsory social security system for state employees and the proposed revision of the law on the General Statute of State Employees and Agents.

Parliament will also deal with the bills on the National Public Rescue Service, fire protection, and the draft revision of the organic law of the Constitutional Council.

The plenary session, which will run until December, will also be marked by the annual information from the head of state, annual information from the ombudsman, information from the government, and questions from deputies to the government.

Lusa Agency