Congress accepts the 2013 national budget, including an investment plan of $23.7 million, the largest in Colombian history.
According to Caracol Radio, the 2013 budget has a 12.2% adjustment from the current 2012 budget. It will include approximately $13.7 million going to education, $6.4 million to health care, $13.8 million to pensions and $26 million for debt.
The Finance Minister, Mauricio Cardenas, has said that the new budget more realistically fits the economic needs of Colombia.
Cardenas also stated that over $3.4 million has been ear marked for victims of violence as well as over a $66.7 million increase for the judicial branch to level wages, a topic that has been controversial for several months.
According to the minister the the macro budget would be more responsibly balanced and the fiscal deficit brought down over the course of 2013.