Parliament passes the 2026 budget

The 2026 budget was adopted in parliament on Friday with 77 votes for and 54 votes against and two abstentions. The budget foresees revenues of 35.7 billion euros, and expenditures of 39.8 billion. Ahead of the vote more than 280 amendments were voted on, of which the Government accepted 15. Along with 76 votes from the parliamentary majority, the 77th vote came from a former SDP MP turned independent.

MPs passed the 2026 budget with a slim margin of 77 votes in the 151 seat chamber. The vote was significant as along with the 76 votes from the parliamentary majority, there was one defection from the ranks of the opposition, independent MP Boška Ban. Ban voted in favor of the budget after the government accepted an amendment she had submitted. Here’s how she explained her vote to reporters: "I voted for this budget primarily because of the projects, primarily those for Međimurje and the north of Croatia. I think northern Croatia gives a lot and it's time that it get something back, and this budget does that. I will support everything that is good for our citizens on the national level, but first and foremost for Međimurje."

Asked if she would be voting with the parliamentary majority from now on, Ban said that her yes vote did not mean she was joining the majority and added that this was not even a topic of discussion.

Although the government also accepted six amendments submitted by the regional party, the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), they voted against the budget nonetheless. Here’s how Deputy Prime Minister Branko Bačić commented the outcome of the vote: "In previous years we accepted amendments from opposition MPs regardless of whether they would back the budget or not. The parliamentary majority is stable, regardless of the fact that an opposition MP backed the budget today."

Source: HRT