Upon his return to Dominican territory, President-elect Leonel Fernandez told reporters that he felt that the tax proposals had to increase the government income, but without hurting the poor. At the same time, the soon-to-be President told reporters he was looking forward to drawing up a tax reform package through a working dialogue with all concerned parties. All of the major newspapers carry the same message today, with El Caribe saying that Fernandez fears social unrest if the tax proposals affect the poorest sectors. The report cites this as the reason for his resistance to widening the VAT tax base even further. Today, Fernandez will begin a series of meetings with the business community, workers? unions and the various political groups. ?We have to know what is economically reasonable, politically viable and socially sustainable,? Fernandez told reporters. He also reminded them of the violence in Venezuela during that country?s IMF Standby accords during the government of President Andres Perez.