Algeria has adopted an expansionary budget for 2014 after cutting 2013 budgeted spending. But the projected 2014 spend is still well down on the bumper 2011 spend, when Algiers attempted to stave off calls for political reforms in the wake of revolutions in nearby Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. Increased spending could help ailing President Abdulaziz Bouteflika secure a fourth term in 17 April presidential elections.
Algeria’s 2014 budget law projects a rise of 11.3% in expenditure to AD7,656bn ($95.7bn) and an increase of 10.4% in revenue to AD4.218bn ($52.7bn), with a resulting deficit of AD 3,438bn ($43bn), up 12.4% on the 2013 deficit (see table). The 2014 budget deficit is 18.1%, down slightly from a provisional deficit of 18.9% in 2013, 25.4% in 2012 and 34% for 2011 when social spending and public sector wages received a massive boost. (CONTINUED - 1428 WORDS)
