The three principal presidential candidates agree that the decentralization of the state, and the strengthening of the municipalities should be contemplated in a reform of the Constitution to improve the living conditions of the population.
The three candidates, Jacinto Peynado, Leonel Fernández and José Francisco Peña Gómez spoke at the Encuentro sobre Gobernabilidad, Descentralización y Desarrollo Municipal held last Monday at the Hotel Lina in Santo Domingo. They agreed that they would increase the public expenditure allotment given to the 107 municipalities of the country from 2% to 10%.
The politicians said that they favor more participation by citizens, distribution of power to the municipalities, and criticized the monopoly on state resources by the Executive Power. Dr Peña Gómez spoke of the importance of modifying Article 55 of the Constitution that allows the President of the Republic to rule by Decree and use all revenues provided in the budget. As President Balaguer has run things, he underestimates the earnings and runs an austere budget, granting only portions of what is estimated, and then goes on a building spree with the supposed surplus.