Ukraine adopts IMF-backed budget after lengthy debate

Kiev

UKRAINE'S Parliament on Monday adopted an austerity budget that hikes import prices and shrinks social spending in order to balance the books under a plan backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The highly disputed 2015 plan was rammed through by the government-led coalition after a marathon debate concluded with a 4.15am vote that came without most deputies ever having seen a full copy of the Bill.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was especially keen to have the measures passed by year-end because its pro-business provisions would li…