the word "but"
So the question is can you continue those kinds of programs but have a better and more reformed economic policy that doesn’t create such a crisis and I think that’s the challenge for both the government and for the opposition to some extent.
What does "but" mean i this sentence?

I understand this is a quotation, but as a written sentence it's long and a little awkward.

You can understand "but" as "yet" (ie. when yet is used as a conjunction.)