Guatemala City/Prensa Latina
The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, insisted today on a 25 percent reduction in his salary, an electoral campaign promise that will come into effect on June 1.
From my mother I learned that the best way to teach is by example, expressed the president through his profile on the social network
In compliance with her (Margarita de León) and the people who elected me, through this office, SAAS (Secretariat of Administrative Affairs and Security) ratifies my decision, the head of state stressed.
That Government entity informed in a letter to the Ministry of Public Finance that it had the amount of 235,330 quetzales (a little more than 30 thousand dollars), the equivalent discount for the rest of the year.
The reduction of this amount will allow the State to save more than 1.5 million quetzales (almost 200 thousand dollars) during every four years of administration.
At the ceremony for the first 100 days of the new authorities, Arévalo signed a letter in which he requested the secretary of the SAAS, Iván Carpio, to reduce his salary.
Comply, reduce privileges and serve the people: it is our commitment, the 65-year-old politician, former diplomat and sociologist by profession, later stressed.
At the end of last month, during a work tour to exchange with the mayors of the department of Retalhuleu, the president announced that the savings would go to a fund for the country’s education.
Vice President Karin Herrera also reduced her salary by 25 percent, in the sense of a historic change to reduce the gaps in this Central American territory, according to the Government.
Official data indicated that the former head of state of Guatemala Jimmy Morales (2016-2020) received 146,680 quetzales (almost 20 thousand dollars) monthly; around 40 times more than the national minimum amount.
At the beginning of his administration, according to local press reports, he offered to donate 60 percent; However, it was a broken promise.
What public officials earn per month constitutes a topic of indignation for the population, when comparing their high salaries with the rampant poverty in Guatemala.
#Arévalo #ratified #salary #reduction #president
