El Salvador's 2015 Budget Approved Despite Opposition
On Thursday, November 20, all parties in El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly save the right-wing opposition party, the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), voted to approve the 2015 national budget presented by the executive. The $4,823,010,660 budget includes substantial increases in the areas of healthcare, education and public security.
ARENA maintains that the 2015 budget is not fully financed and thus unconstitutional, a claim that the executive has rejected as baseless. Nevertheless, the opposition party is threatening to take its challenge to court.
Though unable to block the budget’s passage, ARENA continues to boycott the approval of $600 million in international loans, further demonstrating its commitment to obstruct basic government functioning wherever possible.
"I am a CISPES supporter because continuing to fight for social justice and a more people-centered country means continuing the dream and sacrifice of thousands of my fellow Salvadorans who died for that vision.” - Padre Carlos, New York City
