The head of the legislature called upon Finance Minister Nogui Acosta during the presentation of next year’s budget bill for the significant cuts in social programs for these sectors, the newspaper stated.

Arias told the finance minister that a more prosperous Costa Rica cannot be achieved with those limited resources because “the sharp reduction in social investment is causing serious damage to the Costa Rican population, whose effects are already being felt.”

“I think, Mr. Minister, he pointed out in his exhortation to Acosta, that opening a space for social investment is urgent within this budget and these objectives.” The president of the Legislative Assembly (Parliament) emphasized the need to redirect the budgetary approach to avoid a deterioration in the citizens’ welfare, “in a context where the reduction of resources could aggravate inequalities and access to basic services.” jrr/iff/mem/apb