Deputy Escobar approached the stage where Zelaya concluded the press conference, only to later refute the official’s comments about the budget. It was when the officer had an argument with Escobar.
Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya caused a disagreement when he finished giving a press conference in the Assembly Wednesday evening, where he came to mention the changes the opposition deputies had made to the next year’s draft budget.
Zelaya claimed that by transferring money to mayors, lawmakers are taking about $ 15 million from a loan to purchase vaccines against COVID-19, and other funds to purchase computers for students by 2021, and are working to reduce trenches in different colonies and communities.
“We are not going to have the COVID-19 vaccine removed to give money to the mayors,” Zelaya charged.
“That we took the money from the COVID vaccine, are lying! The money for the purchase of the COVID vaccine is complete and it is also non-transferable, they can use that money for the vaccine only for the vaccine,” Escobar said.
Before these statements, Deputy Escobar approached the stage where Zelaya concluded the press conference and then issued statements to journalists. Just then there was an altercation between them.
The finance minister and deputy Margarita Escobar had an altercation as she approached the stage where he had given a press conference. Photo EDH / Francisco Rubio
“I’ve come several times to be summoned …” Zelaya snapped when he saw Deputy Escobar approaching. Suddenly, someone among those present said “corrupt” to the official, prompting an immediate response.
“Don’t call me corrupt, I’m not a thief, maybe I am, but I’m not,” Zelaya rejected.
SEE: Delegates analyze changes to the 2021 budget to comply with the constitution
“Don’t you want the Fodes, don’t you want the Fodes?” Escobar insisted on Zelaya, and he replied, “No, I have asked him several times to summon me, but really if they want to approve his unpleasantness …” insisted the finance minister.
Zelaya attacked the delegates for the changes they made to certain allocations in the 2021 budget. Photo EDH / Francisco Rubio
“You always get a call and you never come, you don’t even come out of urgency and now you want us to call you. I thought when they told me you were going to bring the affidavit and not bring it, “Escobar told him.
“Ay Margarita, ay Margarita, well, go ahead and approve what you want, really, take the money away from the computers, that’s what you want, do you want to clear the trenches of the Salvadoran people?”
“This is the finance minister we have,” Escobar criticized when he saw Zelaya’s defiant attitude.
“Thank you, deputy, thank you, I asked you to please defend the people, I asked you to please,” claimed the finance minister. “Good evening, Mister Minister, calm down,” Escobar insisted.
“We have just heard a lot of lies, disrespect, exaggerations and the greatest disrespect is you, my friend, viewer. He claims we don’t ask him to come, we always ask him to come, he doesn’t even come out of the pressure, ‘Escobar asked.
In the Treasury committee, ARENA deputy Donato Vaquerano clarified that the money Zelaya claims to have taken for vaccines is being considered in another $ 50 million loan dedicated to Health. He pointed out that in order to refocus items, they took money from another loan for the same $ 50 million that went towards the 2020 budget increase.
READ ALSO: The 2021 budget reforms presented by the government are not valid