OPINION: Government belt needs more tightening

The Government’s announcement to contain spending of $125 million is an effort, but it is very, very far from being what is needed to face the current fiscal crisis. There are billions of dollars that will not go into the National Treasury, and the savings only add up to just over $100 million. Meanwhile, the payroll grows and the subsidies remain intact, despite the fact that experts indicate that the money destined to pay salaries can be reduced, at least, by 25%, while it is necessary to review the subsidies, some of them created for openly clientelist. Only in subsidies, last year more than $2.415 billion were allocated – in the middle of the pandemic – and surely for this year it will be around the same amount. Meanwhile, the annual spending on payroll in the Government is higher than $4. 441 billion, and we all know that it is ostensibly bulky, that it is abused, because the personnel employed in the governmental ranks constitute an important political capital when the elections arrive. In fact, we have witnessed the work claims made by leaders and activists of the parties in power. Definitely, the belt will need to be tightened a lot more-LA PRENSA,May 14