Former President Leonel Fernandez has announced that he will address the nation this evening, Tuesday 13 November about the economy and how he managed the fiscal deficit during his term of office. The speech will be broadcast on Telemicro, channel 5, Teleimpacto, 52, Telefuturo 23, Digital 15, Noticias 16 and a network of radio stations.
This will be the first time that Fernandez has made a speech since leaving office, and takes place two days after protests against the government’s announcement of tax increases to help close the deficit.
Protestors have demanded accountability from the government that overspent the national budget and has now used its legal powers to impose increased taxation. Civil society and business leaders say that the deficit is the result of political patronage and wasteful spending by government.
As reported in Diario Libre, President Fernandez had already referred to the reason for the deficit of RD$187 billion, saying that it was caused by the economic crisis inherited from the Hipolito Mejia government (2000-2004). Fernandez was President from 2004-2012, and ruled with a majority in Congress.
Fernandez is president of the ruling PLD party.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2012/11/13/254902/Leonel-se-dirigira-hoy-al-pais
www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/12/dominican-republic-ex-president-to-address-nation-on-huge-deficit-that-prompted/
www.listin.com.do/dr/videos.aspx?v=5051