Extra $2.3 million for discretionary spending riles civil groups

THE CURRENT   adminstration  is continuing with some of the dubious  patronage habits of its  predecessor say sectors of civil society questioning  the increase of $2.3 million to the discretionary spending of President Juan Carlos Varela, with  just one month left in the year.

The additional credit, in addition to the $5 million already allocated to this category in 2015, was approved by the Budget Committee of the National Assembly on Wednesday November 25.

Carlos Lee of the Citizens Alliance for Justice, criticized the move, noting that at this time governments do charitable activities that have no other purpose than patronage.

Annette Planells, of the Independent Movement (Movin),   said approving these funds when there are only few days until the end of the year sends a message of “improvisation and patronage”.

Meanwhile, the vice chairman of the Budget Committee, Leandro Avila said “If there is any social aid to be the people  I cannot oppose it” reports La Prensa.  In the past there   has  been criticism of discretionary funds allocated to high profile political figures for medical treatment in the USA while the country’s social security service stumbles from crisis to crisis.

The adjustment was approved by the Budget Committee of the National Assembly  on Wednesday November 25 and supported without further details by Minister of the Presidency, Alvaro Aleman.

The additional money will be allocated to the welfare program of the Ministry of the Presidency, according to official documents.

The Office of the Comptroller General issued a favorable opinion to the transaction, which is now in the crosshairs of public opinion says La Prensa.

According to the executive summary that supports the credit adjustment “it will be financed with own resources through cash on hand and in the bank received as income for renewals granted for provisional residence permits within the processes of migration regularization”

It includes the old melting pot program, implemented by the government of President Ricardo Martinelli.Funds from this initiative were just some of the resources that the government of Martinelli used to increase the amount of discretionary social assistance allocated from the President’s Office and which rose in times of political campaign.

According to the report of the discretionary payments  published on the website of the Presidency, in the first months of this year, Varela spent $ 3.3 million of the $ 5 million allocated for this item in the 2015 State  budget.

Between  July 1 and September 30, Varela spent $ 1.7 million.

The increase in the president’s discretionary spending and  its  approval by the Budget Committee, generated questions from  civil society sectors

Movin’s  Annette Planells, said that “improvisation and patronage” are two issues that the administration must eradicate. Public funds should be handled “with prudence” and “focused on the best interests of the country”.