According to a report in the Listin Diario, the payment of such things as the public debt, the government payroll, the subsidy to those who do not pay for electricity or consume less than 200 kWh per month, and the subsidy for the cost of propane gas will make up 74% of the 2005 National Budget that has been set at RD$207 billion. For the payment of the national debt, RD$64.4 billion has been allotted (20%), payroll is given RD$36 billion (22%) and the subsidies will consume RD$19 billion (12%).
Finance Minister Vicente Bengoa commented in Hoy newspaper that the government must follow the IMF’s instructions as to where the money goes in 2005 and 2006. He attributed this to the doubling of the foreign debt that occurred during the Mejia administration. He said that the foreign debt ascended from US$3.6 billion at the start of the Mejia government to US$7 billion at its conclusion. Another US$3 billion has been contracted since, and hefty commissions will have to be paid, even if this debt is not disbursed. According to the Central Bank, the foreign debt accounts for around 53% of the Gross Domestic Product.