Yudhoyono to Hold Meeting With DPR Leadership

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will hold a meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday to discuss a draft revision of the 2013 state budget and fuel subsidy, his spokesman said. Julian Aldrin Pasha, the spokesman, said through his message service here on Sunday the President would meet the DPR leadership at his office. President Yudhoyono has earlier held a meeting with Aburizal Bakrie, the general chairman of Golkar Party, the second biggest party in the DPR and also the government's coalition member to discuss the issue. The swelling fuel subsidy has so far caused pressure on the 2013 budget and therefore, the government plans to increase the price of subsidized fuel oils to reduce the pressure. On the other hand, the government also wished that the economically-weak group would be protected from the impact of the price hike. In view of that, the government hoped that its plan to extend compensation to the people would be accepted by the DPR and be put in the 2013 revised budget later. (*)