The extraordinary session conceptually addresses next year's state budget bill, the medium-term budget framework for 2020, 2021 and 2022, and 26 state budget-related bills.
Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš commended the plan to Saeima, sayihng it was in the public interest.
"As far as our priorities are concerned, the first priority, with the largest additional funding of EUR 50 million, is the health sector. This is followed by the education system, with an additional EUR 23 million for teachers' salaries," Kariņš said.
But the budget came under heavy criticism from the opposition Harmony party with former Prime Ministerial candidate Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis leading the attack in a blistering response.
"Your deeds do not match your words," Dombrovskis told Kariņš, saying that the budget disproved the government's stated aspirations to be a nordic-style country.
While Dombrovskis cited a Latin maxim in support of his argument, his party colleague Ivars Zariņš compared the budget to comments about cake attributed to Marie Antoinette at the time of the French revolution.
The debate continues.
