Since the beginning of the Mej?a administration in August 2000 through May 2003 , Congress has approved 18 loans valuing a total of US$3.9 billion, according to senator Jos? Tom?s P?rez (PLD-Santo Domingo). As reported in Hoy newspaper, this amount more than doubles the foreign debt of the country, which in August 2000 stood at US$3.6 billion, the result of 40 years of government. The senator sent the newspaper a list of the loans that he says provides evidence of a borrowing policy that has created a parallel budget for governmental spending and capital investments of the Mej?a government.
P?rez said that loans passed by the Senate accounted for US$2.8 billion, in addition the US$1.1 billion issued in sovereign bonds.