* Paraguay’s congress has given final approval to a 2021 draft national budget and submitted it to the executive for promulgation. The budget is for G$92.2trn (US$13bn), much higher than the G$85.7trn proposal submitted to congress by the executive led by President
Mario Abdo Benítez. This after legislators decided to substantially increase the budget allocation for public health and social spending to help combat the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and its economic effects. They also approved sizable salary increases for the public sector (including national legislators). The increases came despite the Abdo Benítez government urging congress to exercise austerity and warning about the rising fiscal deficit and growing levels of public debt. This has sparked some speculation that President Abdo Benítez may decide to veto the approved budget.
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