Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado, the head of the National Dialogue and rector of the Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Maestra, has asked the government to avoid an inflationary spiral resulting from the continual increases in the price of fuel. The prelate’s request comes at a time when the Alternative Social Forum and other community groups are calling for protests against the economic policies being implemented by President Fernandez. According to Listin Diario, Nunez Collado suggested that with the savings contained within the conditions set forth in the “Petrocaribe Agreement”, the government could soften the impact of higher oil prices. The paper also reports that Nunez Collado was responding to requests from community organizations, transport unions and others to intervene in the congressional debates over the new tax reform bill and to consider stemming the continual increases in the price of gasoline. In another comment, the monsignor said that he felt confident that the government would be able to fulfill its goal of increasing social expenditure from 0.7% to 1.0% of GDP.