Sandinista Government Promotes Austerity Measures
Salary reduction for high government officials and centralization of the official publicity in the media are among the most important austerity measures announced by the Sandinista government of Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan Finance and Public Credit Minister Alberto Guevara said the aspiration is to save up to 165 million cordovas (nearly 9 million dollars, according to the current exchange rate).

Salary cuts, additionally to maximum level posts imposed by President Daniel Ortega for the members of his Cabinet, will affect officials who earn more than 2,500 dollars, and now they will receive 10 percent less, Guevara said.

Ortega has already reduced those "mega-salaries" earned by the President, Vicepresident and the ministers in 50 percent.

Another measure was to forbid purchase of new vehicles by the ministries, and freeze an amount of nearly 5 million dollars destined every year to pay governmental publicity.

Nicaraguan First Lady and Coordinator for Communication and Citizenship Rosario Murillo said the Executive cannot keep on subsidizing 300 communication media since publicity paid by other governments before only fed the ministers´ ego.

Murillo said the government would soon announce a new strategy for communication, "from the people and for the people."

Authorities consider the money saved for the General Budget should be redistributed in the sectors of public health, education, and to fight hunger and poverty, but their final destination is for the National Assembly to decide.