Andina

PM: Peru will once again register lowest fiscal deficit

15:34 | Lima, Aug. 3.

Prime Minister Pedro Cateriano on Monday affirmed that —once the COVID-19 crisis is over— Peru will remain one of the countries with the lowest average fiscal deficit and the lowest debt in the region.

"Once the crisis is over, and in accordance with the country's long history of fiscal responsibility, it is essential to establish an orderly, gradual and credible consolidation process for the non-financial public sector's fiscal deficit, which will allow preserving the sustainability of public finances," he expressed. 

The high-ranking official affirmed that this consolidation trajectory foresees an increase in permanent tax revenues that allows for a moderate expansion of public spending, so that an adequate provision of public goods and services remains in place.

The Cabinet chief mentioned that the fiscal strengths accumulated after several years of disciplined management have been essential to launching one of the most important economic plans in the region and in the history of the country with the purpose of facing the pandemic.

Fiscal rules

Furthermore, the Prime Minister indicated that —in the current context characterized by high uncertainty— fiscal rules were exceptionally and temporarily suspended in response to the health and economic crises caused by COVID-19.

"Thus, once the pandemic has been overcome, the public finances management will aim to drive fiscal aggregates towards a path of sustainability in the medium term," he stated.

Cateriano also pointed out that this will make rebuilding the country's fiscal space possible in order to preserve the Peruvian State's response capacity to future adverse shocks, and to finance important reforms that increase the potential growth of the economy and the well-being of citizens.

Therefore, he said, it should be noted that the expected fiscal path will consider the dissipation of the transitory measures approved in the context of the crisis.

Remarks were made at Congress during a plenary session in which he presented the Government's general policy and requested the confidence vote of legislators.

(END) RGP/MVB

Published: 8/3/2020