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NewsWhore
01-04-2007, 04:50 PM
President Leonel Fernandez says that he understands the concerns voiced by the Supreme Court (SCJ) and the Central Electoral Board (JCE), about the reduction of funds in their 2007 budgets, but explains that it is all part of the government's austerity plan. President Fernandez says that the Executive Branch will also be subject to a reduction in funds over the coming year. This year 5% of revenues will be directed towards the Executive Branch, less than in previous years, according to the President. Regardless, the President urged the institutions to understand that this budget is necessary to be in line with spending limits set by the agreement with the IMF. A Letter of Intent would be signed in January, supporting the fiscal reform and calling for a reduction in public spending. Fernandez denied that there is a problem with the 2007 budget's passage through Congress, saying that deputies are only taking their time to review it, assuring that it should be approved by Thursday.
On the positive side, as reported in El Caribe, he announced that the government would shortly implement plans prepared together with the World Bank and the Adam Smith Institute to resolve the electricity sector crisis. Furthermore, he announced the soon launch of the implementation of the National Competitiveness plan as a complement to the start of the DR-CAFTA agreement.

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