Peruvian president lowers salaries, including his own

[Robbien]

AP , LIMA
Wednesday, Aug 02, 2006,Page 7

Peruvian President Alan Garcia cut government salaries, including his own, on Monday, three days after announcing a long list of austerity measures in his inaugural address.

Garcia, whose previous 1985-1990 government was plagued by mismanagement and corruption that left Peru nearly bankrupt, blasted outgoing president Alejandro Toledo for spending lavishly while failing to help Peru's poor.

In a decree published in the official newspaper El Peruano, Garcia reduced his monthly paycheck to just over US$5,000, a 60 percent pay cut. Lawmakers saw their salaries reduced by nearly 40 percent to about the same level. The decree also lowered wages for regional presidents, mayors, municipal councilors and their deputies.

Garcia said an emergency decree would be issued in the coming days to implement the pay cuts immediately instead of in January, saving the country US$16.2 million by year's end.

Jorge del Castillo, Garcia's Cabinet chief, said on Monday that the government would impose sanctions on public officials who spend more than their budgets.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2006/08/02/2003321507

[Kiouni]

1. can't see any of our

guys doing that, in Omaha they had a midnight meeting were they voted to raise their pay.

[mark414]

2. that's fucking awesome

and what happens in this country? an active fight against a minimum raise wage while everyone else gets a healthy increase...

fuckers

[Judi Lynn]

3. He got that idea from Evo Morales who did it last January!

Last Updated: Friday, 27 January 2006, 05:38 GMT

Bolivia leader halves his own pay

Mr Morales says he wants to share the burden of the poor
The Bolivian new left-wing President, Evo Morales, has cut his salary by more than a half to a little over $1,800 (£1,012) per month.
The decision means that the salaries of all Bolivian public sector employees will be reviewed, as no official can earn more than the president.

Mr Morales said the money saved would be used to increase the numbers of doctors and teachers.

Mr Morales suggested that members of Congress should cut their salaries too.
(snip/...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4652940.stm



Photo of Evo Morales as a very young man.