The Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, the leading opposition party, is pressing the Executive Branch to increase allotments for several institutions. The PRD is requesting that the Executive Branch increase allotments as follows: Judicial Branch, RD$200 million Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, RD$225 million Junta Central Electoral, RD$153 million Chamber of Deputies (lower house of Congress), RD$20 million Lions Club, RD$14 million Municipality of Santo Domingo, RD$300 million Political analysts say that it’s up to the Executive Branch to accept the demands or not. As it turns out, the PRD, which is absolute majority in the Senate, does not have enough votes in the Chamber of Deputies to override a presidential veto. If Congress modifies the agreement, it risks a presidential veto. This could mean the Fernández administration would operate for its final six months in office using the 1999 budget and having a free hand with an estimated RD$4,000 million budgetary surplus. If Congress rejects the budget as submitted, the Fernández administration could also operate using the 1999 budget, again having a free hand with the surplus.
