The economist Miguel Ceara Hatton, speaking on behalf of the Citizens For Democracy movement is urging President Danilo Medina to base the 2013 budget on that of 2011 and not 2012. He says the 2012 budget was irregular in terms of public expenditure because it was an electoral year where politics prevailed.
He said that it was unacceptable to increase taxation without establishing the causes for the fiscal hole, the methods and those responsible for the fiscal mess in 2012.
He went on to say that it was even less acceptable to ask society to hand over RD$55 billion to the Dominican state in 2013 and more than RD$235 billion pesos over four years without showing that corrective measures are being taken and responsibilities defined. He complained that it could not be simply a case of erasing and starting anew.
He added that the RD$187 billion deficit is the product of a weak political system and the determination to win the election at whatever cost, and he called on the public to reject the increase in taxation that the government proposes to implement.
Minister of Economy Temistocles Montas has announced the fiscal reform proposal would go to Congress tomorrow. The ruling PLD party holds the majority in Congress.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2012/10/22/451575/Pidenal-Presidente-hacer-presupuesto-2013-en-base-al-del2011-creen-2012