Lukashenka advises Belarusians to live within means

The dictator demands to significantly cut public expenses.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka said it when introducing new prime minister Andrei Kabiakou to the “house of representatives”, Interfax news agency reports.

“The first thing we should do is stabilise the situation in the economy and create conditions for sustainable development of the country through the growth of productivity, the efficient use of state property, the promotion of business activity and initiative of citizens,” Lukashenka said.

He noted that Belarus had faced new challenges in the second half of 2014 that “no one expected at the beginning of the year”. “Sanctions, counter-sanctons, the parade of devaluations of national currencies in the neighbouring countries, problems in global markets, the fall of world oil prices, the war in Ukraine and a number of other negative factors. Belarus's open economy reacts painfully to the consequences of such events,” Lukashenka said.

According to him, recipes for the economic growth are known. They include cutting expenses and attracting investments. The dictator wants the government and the real sector of the economy to “give priority to the financial state of enterprises”. The president thinks directors must achieve two main goals: export and profit.

Lukashenka turned attention to the need of cutting public expenses and ordered to live within one's means. He also announced new approaches to the provision of state support in 2015. He called to take decisive measures against social parasitism and choose a wise approach to salary growth.