Open Budget Survey 2015 - International Budget … · Open Budget Survey 2015 ... The Organic Law of Financial Administration of ... national revenue under the jurisdiction of the

Open Budget Survey 2015

Venezuela

Section 1. Public Availability of Budget Docs. “Section One: TheAvailability of Budget Documents” contains a series of four tablesthat allow the researcher to examine and map the public availabilityand dissemination of its country’s key budget documents (i.e., Pre-Budget Statement, Executive’s Budget Proposal (EBP) and SupportingEBP Documents, Citizens Budget, Enacted Budget, In-Year Reports,Mid-Year Review, Year-End Report, and Audit Report), as well as anynational laws regulating budget processes and financialmanagement. Once filled in, these tables will serve as a foundationfor the completion of the rest of the questionnaire, as researcherswill reference the specific documents cited in the tables to answerthe questions contained in Sections 2-5 of the questionnaire.

Table 1. Key Budget Documents

Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

BUDGET DOCUMENT Full Title

Fiscal Year theBudget Document Refersto

Date of Publication

Pre-Budget StatementSe produce para䖺nes internos. Noestá disponible

2014 N/A

Executive's Budget Proposal (EBP)

Se produce para䖺nes internos.Proyecto de Ley dePresupuesto para elejercicio 䖺scal 2014.No está disponible.

2014 N/A

Supporting EBP Document

Se produce para䖺nes internos.Proyecto de LeyEspecial deEndeudamientopara el EjercicioFiscal 2014. No estádisponible.

2014 N/A


Se produce para䖺nes internos:Marco Plurianualdel Presupuesto.No está disponible

2014 - 2016 N/A


Se produce para䖺nes internos. PlanOperativo Anual2014. No estádisponibles

2014 N/A

Enacted BudgetLey de Presupuestopara el EjercicioFiscal 2014

201418 de diciembre de2014

Citizens Budget No se produce N/A N/A

(for EBP or Enacted Budget)No se produce N/A N/A

In-Year Report

Estadísticas deRecaudaciónTributaria yAduanera NoPetrolera bajoJurisdicción delSeniat

2014Mensual desde el12 de febrero 2014

Additional in-year report

No se produce N/A N/A

Additional in-year report

No se produce N/A N/A

Mid-Year Review No se produce N/A N/A

Year-End Report

Se produce para䖺nes internos.Memoria y Cuentadel año 2013 Nodisponible

2013 N/A

Audit Report No se produce N/A N/A

Sources: The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (articles 311-315) states the generalguidelines of the budget regime. The Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector(LOAFSP) is the main regulation together with Rule No. 1 of the LOAFSP, in matters of budget. Chapter II,articles 26, 27 and 28 state the existence of two pre-budget documents. This law (LOAFSP), chapter II,article 38, regarding the Executive's Budget Proposal, states that, along with the special indebtednessdraft bill, it shall be submitted before October 15 before the N.A., for their discussion and approval nolater than December 15 of each year (article 39). The LOAFSP contemplates the presentation of theAnnual Operating Plan together with the Executive's Budget Proposal (article 10). Everything regardingthe content and execution of the Budget is regulated in articles 30-55 of the LOAFSP and the Rule No. 1The 2014 Budget Law and complementary documents are posted on the website of the National Officeof the Budget (ONAPRE) at http://www.onapre.gob.ve/. The 2014 Budget Law and the Special

Indebtedness Law appeared in the Official Gazette 40,317, decree 663 dated December 17, 2013. And itspublication was disseminated on the Twitter account of the National Office of the Budget on December18, 2013. Regarding in-year budget reports, there is partial information referred only to the collection ofnational revenue under the jurisdiction of the National Customs and Taxation Service (SENIAT) that aremonthly updated and published at the website

http://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html Article 237 of the Constitution requires the presentation of a year-end report calledAnnual Account Report.

Comments: Article 311 of the Constitution addresses the need to have a pre-budget document calledMultiyear Framework for Budgeting enacted by the National Assembly (N.A.) as a guideline of thebudget process. Article 313 also mentions the Budget Law proposals that shall be enacted by the N.A..Article 314 mentions the obligation of the Executive to present an accountability report six months afterthe closing of each fiscal year before the National Assembly. The Organic Law of FinancialAdministration of the Public Sector ( Ley Orgánica de Administración Financiera del Sector Público -LOAFSP) mentions a pre-budget statement called Draft Bill of the Multiannual Budget Framework withfiscal and balance discipline rules, for 3 years; then there is a second document in article 28 calledGlobal Report, which also has a pre-budget character since it contemplates an assessment of the yearpreceding the current fiscal year, as well as ""the most relevant proposal the Executive's BudgetProposal shall include the budget law proposal for the following year, its correspondence tomacroeconomic and social goals defined for the public sector in the multiyear framework of the budgetand their sustainability, aimed at providing the basis for the discussion of the EBP." Both documentsshall be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15. However, the institution responsible fortheir publication has not published them. Regarding the Budget Law 2014 and Special IndebtednessLaw 2014 draft bills, they were not promptly made publicly available. They were received in electronicformat at the Ministry of Finance upon request. On the other hand, the Annual Operating Plan 2014 wasreceived in electronic format at the Ministry of Planning, upon request. While this same Organic Law ofFinancial Administration of the Public Sector states between articles 59-61 the need to prepareexecution reports, subsequently makes reference to a regulation that has not been enacted. Thepresentation of the year-end report, called Annual Accounts Report, is mandatory pursuant to article237 of the National Constitution. However, the document was not submitted to any department. Nor tothe National Assembly's, or to the Ministry of Finance's or the Ministry of Planning's. Finally regardingaudit reports, no specific document on budget audit is produced. The superior audit institution is calledComptroller General of the Republic. In its website, linkhttp://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027, it shows documents of special actions insome bodies of the national public authorities regarding 2012. The internal audit units of variousinstitutions of the public sector are the executors of the audit programs in each public entity. They auditspecific expenditure programs and report to the Comptroller General of the Republic. The 2013management report of the Comptroller General of the Republic reports a summary of the auditsconducted, the variances found in the management of several public organizations, the execution oftheir expenditure. The annex presents a summary of each audit. There is no analysis of data of the total

budget nor regarding national financial statements. The following files are publicly available: OrganicLaw of Financial Administration of the Public Sector; Budget Law for fiscal year 2014 (presented onseveral files. The expenditure is presented by administrative units, ministries and public authorities),downloaded from the official website of the National Office of the Budget (Oficina Nacional dePresupuesto - ONAPRE). Also the 2014 Special Indebtedness Law.

http://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html

http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027

PEER REVIEWER

Opinion: No, I do not agree with the score.

Comments: I think it is appropriate to review the different online reports and printed by the fiscal entity(SENIAT), which could be considered budget supporting documents, information can be found regardinginternal non oil revenue, and tax revenue sources can be individually identified.http://www.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html

Table 2a. Details about Availability

Venezuela, RB

Budget Documents Tick box if answer to the questions is “yes”

Pre-BudgetStatement

Executive’sBudgetProposal

Enacted BudgetCitizensBudget

Is it produced at all?Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it produced for internal purposes only?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it published too late compared to the acceptedtimeframe?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public in hard copy, with charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public

in hard copy, NO charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public in soft copy, with charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

http://www.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html

Is it available to the public in soft copy, NO charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public online?Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

If available online, provide internet/URL address

N/A N/Ahttp://www.onapre.gob.ve/

N/A

Is it machine readable? [only for electronic copies]

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is there a “citizens version” of the budget document?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

NoN/A

Sources: The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (articles 311-315) states the generalguidelines of the budget regime. After the Constitution, the Organic Law of Financial Administration ofthe Public Sector (LOAFSP) is the main regulation together with Rule No. 1 of the LOAFSP, in matters ofbudget. Chapter II, articles 26, 27 and 29 state the existence of two pre-budget documents. The cited law(LOAFSP), chapter II, article 38, regarding the budget draft bill, states that the budget draft bill, togetherwith the special indebtedness draft bill, shall be submitted before October 15 before the N.A., for theirdiscussion and approval no later than December 15 of each year (article 39). These draft bills werepublicly available after the budget was enacted. They were received in electronic format at the Ministryof Finance upon the request of a student that is doing his practices in Transparencia - Venezuela. TheLOAFSP contemplates the presentation of the Annual Operating Plan together with the budget draft bill(article 10). It was not publicly available. The Budget Law and complementary documents are posted onthe website of the National Office of the Budget (ONAPRE) at http://www.onapre.gob.ve/.

Comments: Pre-budget documents are prepared for internal use only. In visits to the People's Ministryof Finance, National Office of the Budget (ONAPRE) and the People's Ministry for Planning, it was notpossible to obtain the Multiyear Budget Framework Law draft bill 2014-2016, nor the 2013 GlobalReport, nor the Multiyear Budget Framework 2014-2016. The budget draft bill documents were notavailable prior to being approved by the National Assembly. The Annual Operating Plan 2014, theBudget Draft Bill for fiscal year 2014 and the Special Indebtedness draft bill 2014 were received uponrequest, in electronic format in April 2014.

PEER REVIEWER

Opinion: Yes, I agree with the score and have no comments to add.

Table 2b. Details about Availability

Table 2b. Details about Availability

Venezuela, RB

Budget Documents Tick box if answer to the questions is “yes”

In-Year ReportMid-YearReview

Year-EndReport

AuditReport

Is it produced at all?Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it produced for internal purposes only?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it published too late compared to the acceptedtimeframe?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public in hard copy, with charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public in hard copy, NO charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public in soft copy, with charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public in soft copy, NO charge?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is it available to the public online?Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

If available online, provide internet/URL address

http://declaraciones.se

niat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html

N/A N/A N/A


Is it machine readable? [only for electronic copies]

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Is there a “citizens version” of the budget document?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Sources: "The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, states in its article 237 the obligationof the President to submit before the National Assembly a report on the political, economic, social andadministrative aspects of its administration for the immediately preceding year. The Organic Law ofFinancial Administration of the Public Sector (LOAFSP) states between articles 59-61 the need to prepareexecution reports. But this is not a general practice in the public administration, except for the case ofthe website of the National Customs and Taxation Service (SENIAT), entity that depends on the Ministryof Economy, Finances and Public Banking, which posts report on the collection of the major nationaltaxes, month by month. Linkhttp://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html The Organic Law of the Comptroller General of the Republic and the National FiscalControl System (articles 23-34) describe the fiscal control objectives and the opportunity to conductaudits by the superior audit institution. The Organic Law of Public Administration, article 14, establishesthe obligation of all official to render accounts, article 17 mentions the responsibility in the publicservice, and article 18 establishes the submission of the whole public administration to administrationcontrol and evaluation. Article 9 of the Law Against Corruption established that all officials are requiredto publish quarterly reports on the management and administration of public property." La Constituciónde la República Bolivariana de Venezuela establece en el art. 237 la obligación del Presidente(a) depresentar ante la Asamblea Nacional reporte de los aspectos políticos, económicos, sociales yadministrativos de su gestión durante el año inmediatamente anterior. La Ley Orgánica deAdministración Financiera del Sector Público (LOAFSP) señala entre los artículos 59 al 61 la necesidad deproducir informes de ejecución. Pero esto no ocurre de forma generalizada en la administraciónpública, excepto el caso del portal Web del Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera yTributaria (SENIAT), entidad dependiente del Ministerio de Economía, Finanzas y Banca Pública, endonde aparecen reportes de la recaudación de los impuestos nacionales más importantes, mes a mes.Enlacehttp://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html La Ley Orgánica de la Contraloría General de la República y del Sistema Nacional delControl Fiscal (artículos 23 al 34) establecen los objetivos del control fiscal y la oportunidad de larealización de las actuaciones del órgano de fiscalización superior. La Ley Orgánica de AdministraciónPública en el artículo 14 establece la obligatoriedad de todos los funcionarios de rendir cuentas, el art.17 menciona la responsabilidad en la función pública, y el 18 establece el sometimiento de toda laadministración pública al control y evaluación de gestión. La Ley contra la Corrupción, prevé en elartículo 9 la obligatoriedad de todos los funcionarios de publicar informes de la gestión yadministración del patrimonio público con carácter trimestral.



Comments: While the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector states betweenarticles 59-61 the need to prepare execution reports, it makes reference to a regulation that has notbeen enacted. The presentation of the year-end report, called Annual Accounts Report, is mandatory,but it was not submitted at any office. Nor to the National Assembly's, or the Ministry of Finance's or theMinistry of Planning's. While there is sufficient legislation on the obligation of submitting executionreports, it became known that there are no updated consolidated budgetary execution reports forquarters or semesters. It became known that annual financial execution reports are prepared, but it isnot publicly available. Regarding non oil monthly revenue, the SENIAT presents data in a spreadsheet,with no comparisons or analysis. The website of the Comptroller General of the Republic, on its linkregarding the actions of the National Government, shows the summary of various actions in publicministries and entities http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027, but it is not an auditreport on global budget execution."

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: I think it is appropriate to review the different online reports posted online and publishedin print by the fiscal entity (SENIAT), which could be considered budget supporting documents,information can be found regarding internal non oil revenue, and tax revenue sources can beindividually identified.http://www.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html

Table 3. When Are the Key Budget Documents Made Available tothe Public?

Venezuela, RB

Pre-Budget Statement: When is the Pre-Budget Statement made available to the public?

100. At least four months in advance of the budget year, and at least one month before the executive’sbudget proposal is introduced in the legislature

67. At least two months, but less than four months, in advance of the budget year, and at least onemonth before the executive’s budget proposal is introduced in the legislature

33. Less than two months in advance of the budget year, but at least one month before the executive’sbudget proposal is introduced in the legislature

0. Does not release to the public, or is released less than one month before the executive’s budgetproposal is introduced to the legislature



proposal is introduced to the legislature

Executive Budget Proposal: When is the Executive Budget Proposal made available to the public?

100. At least three months in advance of the budget year, and in advance of the budget being approvedby the legislature

67. At least two months, but less than three months, in advance of the budget year, and in advance ofthe budget being approved by the legislature

33. Less than two months in advance of the budget year, but at least in advance of the budget beingapproved by the legislature

0. Does not release to the public, or is released after the budget has been approved by the legislature

Enacted Budget: When is the Enacted Budget made available to the public?

100. Two weeks or less after the budget has been enacted

67. Between two weeks and six weeks after the budget has been enacted

33. More than six weeks, but less than three months, after the budget has been enacted

0. Does not release to the public, or is released more than three months after the budget has beenenacted

In-Year Report: When are In-Year Reports made available to the public?

100. At least every month, and within one month of the period covered

67. At least every quarter, and within three months of the period covered

33. At least semi-annually, and within three months of the period covered

0. Does not release to the public

Mid-Year Review: How long after the mid-point in the fiscal year (i.e., six months into the fiscal year) is the Mid-Year Review made available to the public?

100. Six weeks or less after the mid-point

67. Nine weeks or less, but more than six weeks, after the mid-point

33. More than nine weeks, but less than three months, after the mid-point

0. Does not release to the public, or is released more than three months after the mid-point

Year-End Report: How long after the end of the budget year is the Year-End Report made available tothe public?

100. Six months or less after the end of the budget year

67. Nine months or less, but more than 6 months, after the end of the budget year

33. More than nine months, but within 12 months, after the end of the budget year

0. Does not release to the public, or is released more than 12 months after the end of the budget year


Audit Report: How long after the end of the fiscal year are the final annual expenditures of national departments audited and released (except for secret programs)?

100. Six months or less after the end of the budget year

67. 12 months or less, but more than 6 months, after the end of the budget year

33. More than 12 months, but within 18 months, after the end of the budget year


Sources: The Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector (LOAFSP), articles 26-29,established the presentation of pre-budget documents. Article 38 of this law establishes the date ofpresentation of the budget proposal and the approval deadline. The Budget Law for Fiscal Year 2014and all of its components are available at the website of the National Office of the Budget (ONAPRE) athttp://www.onapre.gob.ve/ Website of the Comptroller General of the Republic, link reports of actions2013 http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027

Comments: Pre-budget documents were not made publicly available, they were only submitted to theNational Assembly's Committee of Finances. The 2014 Budget Law and the Special Indebtedness Lawappeared in the Official Gazette 40,317, decree 663 dated December 17, 2013. And its publication wasdisseminated on the Twitter account of the National Office of the Budget on December 18, 2013. Whileseveral regulations such as the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector, the OrganicLaw of Public Administration, the Law against Corruption and the Constitution itself establish theobligation of submitting execution reports, it is not a common practice to prepare quarterly or six-monthly consolidated reports on the national expenditure, except the fiscal statistics that are posted onthe website of the Ministry of Finance, which are posted with much delay and with pre-budget figures.The Comptroller General of the Republic publishes summaries of the special actions carried out bycertain units of some Ministries and public authorities, corresponding to 2012.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: I think it is appropriate to review the different online reports and printed by the fiscal entity(SENIAT), which could be considered budget supporting documents, information can be found regardinginternal non oil revenue, and tax revenue sources can be individually identified.http://www.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/

5-3.html

RESEARCHER'S RESPONSE

The answers of the in-year report and the audit report were changed.



Table 4. General Questions

Venezuela, RB

YES/NOIf yes, additional information; If no, please note N/A in the text box.

Is there a website or web portal for government fiscal information?

Yes

No

http://www.onapre.gob.ve/http://www.mppef.gob.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=238&Itemid=371http://www.mppef.gob.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=245&Itemid=381

Is there a law (or laws) guiding public financial management?

Yes

No

Constitución de laRepública Bolivarianade Venezuela LeyOrgánica deAdministraciónFinanciera del SectorPúblico (LOAFSP).Reglamento N° 1 de laLOAFSP. Ley Orgánicade la ContraloríaGeneral de la Repúblicay del Régimen deControl Fiscal LeyOrgánica de Régimen

Presupuestario

Are there additional laws regulating:

Ley Orgánica de laAdministración Pública.Ley Orgánica deProcedimientos

http://www.mppef.gob.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=238&Itemid=371

http://www.mppef.gob.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=245&Itemid=381

Are there additional laws regulating:• Access to information?• Transparency?• Citizens participation?

Yes

No

ProcedimientosAdministrativos. Leycontra la Corrupción.Ley Orgánica del PoderCiudadano. LeyOrgánica del PoderPopular

Sources: Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (title VI) Socioeconomic Order, chapter IITax and Monetary System, Section One Budget System, articles 311-315. The Organic Law of FinancialAdministration of the Public Sector (LOAFSP), Chapter II On the Budget System of the Republic and itsDecentralized Entities, articles 24-29. Section 4: On the formulation of the budget of the Republic and itsDecentralized Entities, articles 34-42; Section 5: On the execution of the budget of the Republic and itsDecentralized Entities, articles 43-55; Section 7, On the evaluation of budget execution, articles 59-61.The Organic Law of Budget System (largely repealed by the LOAFSP) still has applicable articles: inarticles 3-11 establishes general guidelines of the budget process and articles 12-20 describes howbudgets are structured. Regarding access to information: Organic Law of Public Administration, articles6, 13, 14, 17 and 18. Law Against Corruption, articles 8 and 9. Organic Law of Administrative Procedures,articles 2, 3 and 5. Organic Law of Citizens Branch, article 10 The Organic Law of People's Branch, article7, number 6, establishes the engagement for the exercise of social comptrollership; article 8, number 8defines social control and number 12 defines the participatory budget; article 17 establishes theplanning of public policies between the government and popular power authorities; article 19 describessocial comptrollership; articles 24 and 25. Regulation No. 1 of the The Organic Law of FinancialAdministration of the Public Sector (LOAFSP), Chapter III On the Budget System of the Republic, articles11-21; on the formulation of the budget, articles 30-35.

Comments: Most of the cited laws were already commented in the above tables. It only need be addedthe Organic Law of the Citizen Branch, Law of Administrative Procedures and the Organic Law ofPeople's Branch, with several articles that establish citizens engagement in the budget processes, auditand management evaluation actions. There is no national law on the access to information andtransparency, but this principle does appear in all the cited laws and in the Constitution of the BolivarianRepublic of Venezuela.

PEER REVIEWER


Section 2. Comprehensiveness of the Executive's Budget Proposal

001. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditures for the budgetyear that are classified by administrative unit (that is, byministry, department, or agency)?

A. Yes, administrative units accounting for all expenditures are presented.

B. Yes, administrative units accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, expenditures are presented.

C. Yes, administrative units accounting for less than two-thirds of expenditures are presented.

D. No, expenditures are not presented by administrative unit.

E. Not applicable/other (please comment).

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The document was not available before its enactment by the National Assembly. It should benoted that Regulation No. 1 of the The Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sectorestablishes in article 23 that Title II, chapter II of the National Budget shall include the financialoperations and expenditure of the Republic. The law requires breakdown by administrative units, whiletitle III, chapter III shall show functionally financial operations and expenditure of the nonprofitdecentralized entities.

Comments: The document was not available before its enactment on December 10, in the NationalAssembly.

PEER REVIEWER


002. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditures for the budgetyear by functional classification?

A. Yes, expenditures are presented by functional classification.

B. No, expenditures are not presented by functional classification.

C. Not applicable/other (please comment).

Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 (Executive's Budget Proposal 2014) was notavailable prior to being approved by the National Assembly on December 10. Nor Regulation No. 1 ofthe The Organic Law of Financial Administration, or the Organic Law of Financial Administration mentionthe requirement to present the functional classification of expenditure.

Comments: Nor Regulation No. 1 of the The Organic Law of Financial Administration, or the OrganicLaw of Financial Administration mention the requirement to present the functional classification ofexpenditure.

PEER REVIEWER


003. If the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting budgetdocumentation presents expenditures for the budget year byfunctional classification, is the functional classificationcompatible with international standards?

A. Yes, the functional classification is compatible with international standards.

B. No, the functional classification is not compatible with international standards, or expenditures are

not presented by functional classification.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available before its enactment. Nor theOrganic Law of Financial Administration, or its regulation No. 1 mention the requirement to present thefunctional classification.

PEER REVIEWER


004. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditures for the budgetyear by economic classification?

A. Yes, expenditures are presented by economic classification.

B. No, expenditures are not presented by economic classification.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available before its enactment by theNational Assembly. Nor the Organic Law of Financial Administration, or its regulation No. 1 mention,expressly establish in articles 14 and 22, that the economic classification shall be presented.

PEER REVIEWER


005. If the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting budgetdocumentation presents expenditures for the budget year byeconomic classification, is the economic classification

economic classification, is the economic classificationcompatible with international standards?

A. Yes, the economic classification is compatible with international standards.

B. No, the economic classification is not compatible with international standards, or expenditures arenot presented by economic classification.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available before its enactment by theNational Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


006. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditures for individualprograms for the budget year?

A. Yes, programs accounting for all expenditures are presented.

B. Yes, programs accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, expenditures are presented.

C. Yes, programs accounting for less than two-thirds of expenditures are presented.

D. No, expenditures are not presented by program.


Venezuela, RB

D.

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available for citizens before its enactmentby the National Assembly. However, it should be noted that the Regulation No. 1 of the Organic Law ofFinancial Administration of the Public Sector establishes in article 22 that the expenditure budgets shall"state projects, centralized actions, specific actions and other categories equivalent to those approvedby the National Budget Office."

PEER REVIEWER


007. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditure estimates for amulti-year period (at least two-years beyond the budget year)by any of the three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, or functional classification)?

A. Yes, multi-year expenditure estimates are presented by all three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, and functional classification).

B. Yes, multi-year expenditure estimates are presented by two of the three expenditure classifications.

C. Yes, multi-year expenditure estimates are presented by only one of the three expenditureclassifications.

D. No, multi-year expenditure estimates are not presented by any expenditure classification.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available before its enactment by theNational Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


008. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditure estimates for amulti-year period (at least two-years beyond the budget year)by program?

A. Yes, multi-year estimates for programs accounting for all expenditures are presented.

B. Yes, multi-year estimates for programs accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, expendituresare presented.

C. Yes, multi-year estimates for programs accounting for less than two-thirds of expenditures arepresented.

D. No, multi-year estimates for programs are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available for citizens before its enactmentby the National Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


009. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present the individual sources of taxrevenue (such as income tax or VAT) for the budget year?

A. Yes, individual sources of tax revenue accounting for all tax revenue are presented.

B. Yes, individual sources of tax revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, tax revenuesare presented.

C. Yes, individual sources of tax revenue accounting for less than two-thirds of all tax revenues arepresented.

D. No, individual sources of tax revenue are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available for citizens before its enactmentby the National Assembly. It should be noted that the Organic Law of Financial Administration of thePublic Sector, article 13, mandates that the budget shall include "the different categories of current andcapital revenue, as well as the amounts estimated for each of them. There shall be no category notrepresented by a numerical figure."

PEER REVIEWER


Suggested Answer: c.

010. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present the individual sources of non-tax revenue (such as grants, property income, and sales ofgovernment-produced goods and services) for the budgetyear?

A. Yes, individual sources of non-tax revenue accounting for all non-tax revenue are presented.

B. Yes, individual sources of non-tax revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, non-taxrevenues are presented.

C. Yes, individual sources of non-tax revenue accounting for less than two-thirds of all non-tax revenues

C. Yes, individual sources of non-tax revenue accounting for less than two-thirds of all non-tax revenuesare presented.

D. No, individual sources of non-tax revenue are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available for citizens before its enactmentby the National Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


011. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present revenue estimates by category(such as tax and non-tax) for a multi-year period (at least two-years beyond the budget year)?

A. Yes, multi-year estimates of revenue are presented by category.

B. No, multi-year estimates of revenue are not presented by category.

C. Not applicable/other (please

Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available for citizens before its enactmentby the National Assembly. However, it is accurate to say that there are estimates of total revenue andGDP percentages, in the Multiyear Budget framework. Also estimates of revenue according to the oiland non oil revenue classification. The tax and non tax classification is not considered.

PEER REVIEWER


012. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates for individualsources of revenue presented for a multi-year period (at leasttwo-years beyond the budget year)?

A. Yes, multi-year estimates for individual sources of revenue accounting for all revenue are presented.

B. Yes, multi-year estimates for individual sources of revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of, butnot all, revenue are presented.

C. Yes, multi-year estimates for individual sources of revenue accounting for less than two-thirds ofrevenue are presented.

D. No, multi-year estimates for individual sources of revenue are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available for citizens before its enactmentby the National Assembly. It is also clarified that nor the the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 orthe Multiyear Budget Framework include a breakdown of multi-year estimates of individual sources ofrevenue.

PEER REVIEWER


013. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present three estimates related togovernment borrowing and debt: the amount of net newborrowing required during the budget year; the total debt

borrowing required during the budget year; the total debtoutstanding at the end of the budget year; and interestpayments on the debt for the budget year?

A. Yes, all three estimates related to government borrowing and debt are presented.

B. Yes, two of the three estimates related to government borrowing and debt are presented.

C. Yes, one of the three estimates related to government borrowing and debt are presented.

D. No, none of the three estimates related to government borrowing and debt are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was not available for citizens before its enactmentby the National Assembly. The Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and the SpecialIndebtedness Bill 2014 present the three estimates. In tables 5.1-1; 5.1-2; 6.23-1; 6.23-2, 6.24-1 and 6.24-2.

PEER REVIEWER


014. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information related to thecomposition of the total debt outstanding at the end of thebudget year? (The core information must include interest rateson the debt instruments; maturity profile of the debt; andwhether it is domestic or external debt.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for the composition of the total debtoutstanding.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for the composition of the total debt outstanding.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for the composition of the total debt outstanding.

C. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some core elements.

D. No, information related to composition of total debt outstanding is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and supporting documents were not available forcitizens before their enactment by the National Assembly. It should be noted that the Statement of theNational Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014, in the statistics information section, include the breakdown ondomestic and external debt servicing and outstanding domestic and external debt. Tables 6.23; 6.24;6.25 and 6.26.

PEER REVIEWER


015. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on themacroeconomic forecast upon which the budget projectionsare based? (The core information must include a discussion ofthe economic outlook with estimates of nominal GDP level,inflation rate, real GDP growth, and interest rates.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for the macroeconomic forecast.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for the macroeconomic forecast.


D. No, information related to the macroeconomic forecast is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly. The Statement of the NationalBudget Bill for fiscal year 2014 includes in table 1-1 (page 24), the macroeconomic goals, as context ofthe budget formulation, as well as data of the nominal Gross Domestic Product, real GDP growth rate,annualized inflation rate, exchange rate and average export price of the Venezuelan oil barrel. Also thegeneral provisions of the Budget draft bill (title I) mention these provisions.

PEER REVIEWER


016. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation show the impact of differentmacroeconomic assumptions (i.e., sensitivity analysis) on thebudget? (The core information must include estimates of theimpact on expenditures, revenue, and debt of differentassumptions for the inflation rate, real GDP growth, andinterest rates.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented to show the impact of differentmacroeconomic assumptions on the budget.

B. Yes, the core information is presented to show the impact of different macroeconomic assumptionson the budget.


D. No, information related to different macroeconomic assumptions is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly in December. It is worthmentioning that the Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014, chapter 5 includesinformation on the Revenue and financing operations, the impact of estimated price of the oil barrel inthe calculation of ordinary revenue.

PEER REVIEWER


017. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information for at least thebudget year that shows how new policy proposals, as distinctfrom existing policies, affect expenditures?

A. Yes, estimates that show how all new policy proposals affect expenditures are presented, along witha narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates that show how all new policy proposals affect expenditures are presented, but anarrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, information that shows how some but not all new policy proposals affect expenditure ispresented.

D. No, information that shows how new policy proposals affect expenditure is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly in December 2014.

PEER REVIEWER



018. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information for at least thebudget year that shows how new policy proposals, as distinctfrom existing policies, affect revenues?

A. Yes, estimates that show how all new policy proposals affect revenues are presented, along with anarrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates that show how all new policy proposals affect revenues are presented, but a narrativediscussion is not included.

C. Yes, information that shows how some but not all new policy proposals affect revenues arepresented.

D. No, information that shows how new policy proposals affect revenues is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly in December 2014. TheStatement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 does not provide information on which are thenew policies or how they affect expenditure or revenue.

PEER REVIEWER


019. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditures for the yearpreceding the budget year (BY-1) by any of the threeexpenditure classifications (by administrative, economic, or

functional classification)?

A. Yes, expenditure estimates for BY-1 are presented by all three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, and functional classification).

B. Yes, expenditure estimates for BY-1 are presented by two of the three expenditure classifications.

C. Yes, expenditure estimates for BY-1 are presented by only one of the three expenditureclassifications.

D. No, expenditure estimates for BY-1 are not presented by any expenditure classification.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly in December 2014. Statement ofthe National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014. Statistic Annexes, tables 6.1 - 6.22.

Comments: Not only the preceding year is included, but also the last four years.

PEER REVIEWER


020. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditures for individualprograms for the year preceding the budget year (BY-1)?

A. Yes, programs accounting for all expenditures are presented for BY-1.

B. Yes, programs accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, expenditures are presented for BY-1.

C. Yes, programs accounting for less than two-thirds of expenditures are presented for BY-1.

C. Yes, programs accounting for less than two-thirds of expenditures are presented for BY-1.

D. No, expenditures are not presented by program for BY-1.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: The tables included in the statistic annex of the Statement of the National Budget Bill forfiscal year 2014 show the data of the administrative, economic and functional classification ofexpenditure. No programs are included, but expenditure concepts are: Legal, indebtedness projects,functional autonomy bodies, national universities, other expenditure.

PEER REVIEWER


021. In the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting budgetdocumentation, have expenditure estimates of the year priorto the budget year (BY-1) been updated from the originalenacted levels to reflect actual expenditures?

A. Yes, expenditure estimates for BY-1 have been updated from the original enacted levels.

B. No, expenditure estimates for BY-1 have not been updated from the original enacted levels.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


Comments: The Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014, statistic annex, tables 6.1onward mention that the estimates of the preceding year (2013) have been adjusted to the actualexecution.

PEER REVIEWER


022. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates of expenditure formore than one year prior to the budget year (that is, BY-2 andprior years) by any of the three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, or functional classification)?

A. Yes, expenditure estimates for BY-2 and prior years are presented by all three expenditureclassifications (by administrative, economic, and functional classification).

B. Yes, expenditure estimates for BY-2 and prior years are presented by two of the three expenditureclassifications.

C. Yes, expenditure estimates for BY-2 and prior years are presented by only one of the threeexpenditure classifications.

D. No, expenditure estimates for BY-2 and prior years are not presented by any expenditureclassification.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly 10 December 2014.

Comments: The Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 does include the expenditureof the expenditure executed for the four preceding years (2009-20013) by administrative, economic andfunctional classification.

PEER REVIEWER


023. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present expenditures for individualprograms for more than one year preceding the budget year(that is, BY-2 and prior years)?

A. Yes, programs accounting for all expenditures are presented for BY-2 and prior years.

B. Yes, programs accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, expenditures are presented for BY-2and prior years.

C. Yes, programs accounting for less than two-thirds of expenditures are presented for BY-2 and prioryears.

D. No, expenditures are not presented by program for BY-2 and prior years.

E. Not applicable/other (please

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on 10 December 2014.

Comments: The Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014, statistic annexes, show

expenditure for the preceding four years, not by programs but by sectors.

PEER REVIEWER


024. In the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting budgetdocumentation, what is the most recent year presented forwhich all expenditures reflect actual outcomes?

A. Two years prior to the budget year (BY-2).

B. Three years prior to the budget year (BY-3).

C. Before BY-3.

D. No actual data for all expenditures are presented in the budget or supporting budgetdocumentation.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


025. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present revenue by category (such astax and non-tax) for the year preceding the budget year (BY-1)?

A. Yes, revenue estimates for BY-1 are presented by category.

B. No, revenue estimates for BY-1 are not presented by category.



Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


026. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present individual sources of revenuefor the year preceding the budget year (BY-1)?

A. Yes, individual sources of revenue accounting for all revenue are presented for BY-1.

B. Yes, individual sources of revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, revenue for BY-1are presented.

C. Yes, individual sources of revenue accounting for less than two-thirds of all revenues for BY-1 arepresented.

D. No, individual sources of revenue are not presented for BY-1.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10. Unlike previousyears, nor the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) or the National Assembly posted the National BudgetBill for fiscal year 2014on their websites.

PEER REVIEWER



027. In the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting budgetdocumentation, have the original estimates of revenue for theyear prior to the budget year (BY-1) been updated to reflectactual revenue collections?

A. Yes, revenue estimates for BY-1 have been updated from the original enacted levels.

B. No, revenue estimates for BY-1 have not been updated from the original enacted levels.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10. Unlike previousyears, nor the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) or the National Assembly posted the National BudgetBill for fiscal year 2014 on their websites.

PEER REVIEWER


028. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present revenue estimates by category(such as tax and non-tax) for more than one year prior to thebudget year (that is, BY-2 and prior years)?

A. Yes, revenue estimates for BY-2 and prior years are presented by category.

B. No, revenue estimates for BY-2 and prior years are not presented by category.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10. Unlike previousyears, nor the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) or the National Assembly posted the National BudgetBill for fiscal year 2014 on their websites.

PEER REVIEWER


029. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present individual sources of revenuefor more than one year prior to the budget year (that is, BY-2and prior years)?

A. Yes, individual sources of revenue accounting for all revenue are presented for BY-2 and prior years.

B. Yes, individual sources of revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, revenue arepresented for BY-2 and prior years.

C. Yes, individual sources of revenue accounting for less than two-thirds of all revenues are presentedfor BY-2 and prior years.

D. No, individual sources of revenue are not presented for BY-2 and prior years.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10. Unlike previousyears, nor the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) or the National Assembly posted the National BudgetBill for fiscal year 2014on their websites.

PEER REVIEWER



030. In the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting budgetdocumentation, what is the most recent year presented forwhich all revenues reflect actual outcomes?



C. Before BY-3.

D. No actual data for all revenues are presented in the budget or supporting budget documentation.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10.

Comments: Unlike previous years, nor the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) or the National Assemblyposted the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014on their websites.

posted the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014on their websites.

PEER REVIEWER



031. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on governmentborrowing and debt, including its composition, for the yearproceeding the budget year (BY-1)? (The core information mustinclude the total debt outstanding at the end of BY-1; theamount of net new borrowing required during BY-1; interestpayments on the debt; interest rates on the debt instruments;maturity profile of the debt; and whether it is domestic orexternal debt.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for government debt.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for government debt.


D. No, information related to government debt is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: Unlike previous years, neither the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) nor the NationalAssembly posted the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 on their websites.

PEER REVIEWER




032. In the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting budgetdocumentation, what is the most recent year presented forwhich the debt figures reflect actual outcomes?



C. Before BY-3.

D. No actual data for government debt are presented in the budget or supporting budgetdocumentation.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: Unlike previous years, neither the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) nor the NationalAssembly posted the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 on their websites.

PEER REVIEWER


033. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on extra-budgetary funds for at least the budget year? (The coreinformation must include a statement of purpose or policy

rationale for the extra-budgetary fund; and complete income,expenditure, and financing data on a gross basis.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for all extra-budgetary funds.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for all extra-budgetary funds.

C. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some core elements or some extra-budgetary funds.

D. No, information related to extra-budgetary funds is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: Unlike previous years, neither the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) nor the NationalAssembly posted the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014on their websites. In the last few years, thequantity of the amounts that manage extra-budgetary funds is significant. FONDEN, Fondo Chino, GranMisión Vivienda and PDVSA, are executors of public expenditure (as shown on pages 49 and 61 of theStatement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014). However, they do operate with completeopacity. The governmental policy has intended to feed extra-budgetary funds with oil resources,through the Law that creates the Special Contribution for Extraordinary Prices and Exorbitant Prices inthe International Hydrocarbon Market.

PEER REVIEWER

Opinion: Yes, I agree with the score but wish to add a comment, clarification, or suggest anotherreference.

Comments: Extra-budgetary funds have become probably the largest source of opacity in the

Venezuelan budget. According to information collected through the year-end reports of PDVSA and BCV,the contributions received by FONDEN alone, the main extra-budgetary fund of the government, for2005-2013, amount to USD 117,794 million. That is to say, a very important part of the national budgethas been executed through quasi-fiscal means, with no transparency or accountability. Budgets thathave been allocated and executed without going through the ONAPRE, the approval of the National

Assembly or the scrutiny of the Comptroller.

034. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present central government finances(both budgetary and extra-budgetary) on a consolidated basisfor at least the budget year?

A. Yes, central government finances are presented on a consolidated basis.

B. No, central government finances are not presented on a consolidated basis.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


Comments: There is no available information of the expenditure consolidated with budgetary andextra-budgetary funds in any budgetary documents or supporting document.

PEER REVIEWER


035. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates ofintergovernmental transfers for at least the budget year?

A. Yes, estimates of all intergovernmental transfers are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of all intergovernmental transfers are presented, but a narrative discussion is notincluded.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all intergovernmental transfers are presented.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all intergovernmental transfers are presented.

D. No, estimates of intergovernmental transfers are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: Unlike previous years, neither the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) nor the NationalAssembly posted the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014or their supporting documents on theirwebsites.

PEER REVIEWER


036. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present alternative displays ofexpenditures (such as by gender, by age, by income, or byregion) to illustrate the financial impact of policies on differentgroups of citizens, for at least the budget year?

A. Yes, at least three alternative displays of expenditures are presented to illustrate the financial impactof policies on different groups of citizens.

B. Yes, two alternative displays of expenditures are presented to illustrate the financial impact ofpolicies on different groups of citizens.

C. Yes, one alternative display of expenditures is presented to illustrate the financial impact of policies

on different groups of citizens.

D. No, alternative displays of expenditures are not presented to illustrate the financial impact of policieson different groups of citizens.



Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10, 2013.

Comments: Unlike previous years, neither the National Budget Office (ONAPRE) nor the NationalAssembly posted the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014or their supporting documents on theirwebsites.

PEER REVIEWER


037. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates of transfers to publiccorporations for at least the budget year?

A. Yes, estimates of all transfers to public corporations are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of all transfers to public corporations are presented, but a narrative discussion is notincluded.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all transfers to public corporations are presented.

D. No, estimates of transfers to public corporations are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


available for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10, 2013.

PEER REVIEWER


038. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on quasi-fiscalactivities for at least the budget year? (The core informationmust include a statement of purpose or policy rationale for thequasi-fiscal activity and the intended beneficiaries.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for all quasi-fiscal activities.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for all quasi-fiscal activities.

C. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some core elements or some quasi-fiscal activities.

D. No, information related to quasi-fiscal activities is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


039. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on financial assetsheld by the government? (The core information must include alisting of the assets, and an estimate of their value.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for all financial assets.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for all financial assets.

C. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some core elements or some financial assets.

D. No, information related to financial assets is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


040. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on nonfinancialassets held by the government? (The core information mustinclude a listing of the assets by category.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for all nonfinancial assets.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for all nonfinancial assets.

C. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some nonfinancial assets.

D. No, information related to nonfinancial assets is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


041. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates of expenditurearrears for at least the budget year?

A. Yes, estimates of all expenditure arrears are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of all expenditure arrears are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all expenditure arrears are presented.

D. No, estimates of expenditure arrears are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 and other supporting documents were notavailable for citizens before their enactment by the National Assembly on December 10, 2014

PEER REVIEWER


042. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supporting

042. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on contingentliabilities, such as government loan guarantees or insuranceprograms? (The core information must include a statement ofpurpose or policy rationale for each contingent liability; thenew guarantees or insurance commitments proposed for thebudget year; and the total amount of outstanding guaranteesor insurance commitments (the gross exposure) at the end ofthe budget year.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for all contingent liabilities.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for all contingent liabilities.

C. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some core elements or some contingent liabilities.

D. No, information related to contingent liabilities is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


043. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present projections that assess thegovernment’s future liabilities and the sustainability of itsfinances over the longer term? (The core information must

cover a period of at least 10 years and include themacroeconomic and demographic assumptions used and adiscussion of the fiscal implications and risks highlighted bythe projections.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented to assess the government’s future liabilitiesand the sustainability of its finances over the longer term.

B. Yes, the core information is presented to assess the government’s future liabilities and thesustainability of its finances over the longer term.


D. No, information related to future liabilities and the sustainability of finances over the longer term isnot presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


044. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates of the sources ofdonor assistance, both financial and in-kind?

A. Yes, estimates of all sources of donor assistance are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of all sources of donor assistance are presented, but a narrative discussion is notincluded.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all sources of donor assistance are presented.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all sources of donor assistance are presented.

D. No, estimates of the sources of donor assistance are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


045. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on taxexpenditures for at least the budget year? (The coreinformation must include a statement of purpose or policyrationale for each tax expenditure, the intended beneficiaries,and an estimate of the revenue foregone.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for all tax expenditures.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for all tax expenditures.

C. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some core elements or some tax expenditures.

D. No, information related to tax expenditures is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


046. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates of earmarkedrevenues?

A. Yes, estimates of all earmarked revenues are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of all earmarked revenues are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all earmarked revenues are presented.

D. No, estimates of earmarked revenues are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: There are para-fiscal contributions with classified revenue, they are: the contributionestablished in the Organic Law of Science, Technology and Innovation (also known as LOCTI),contribution of the National Law Against Drugs allocated to the National Anti Drugs Fund (FONA),contribution of the Sports Law allocated to the National Sports Fund. These contributions are notdescribed as revenue in the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014, nor are their explanations

included.

PEER REVIEWER


047. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on how theproposed budget (both new proposals and existing policies) islinked to government’s policy goals for the budget year?

A. Yes, estimates that show how the proposed budget is linked to all the government’s policy goals forthe budget year are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates that show how the proposed budget is linked to all the government’s policy goals forthe budget year are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, information that shows how the proposed budget is linked to some but not all of thegovernment’s policy goals for the budget year is presented.

D. No, information on the link between the budget and the government’s stated policy goals for thebudget year is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


048. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present information on how theproposed budget (both new proposals and existing policies) islinked to government’s policy goals for a multi-year period (for

at least two years beyond the budget year)?

A. Yes, estimates that show how the proposed budget is linked to all the government’s policy goals for amulti-year period are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates that show how the proposed budget is linked to all the government’s policy goals for amulti-year period are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, information that shows how the proposed budget is linked to some but not all of thegovernment’s policy goals for a multi-year period is presented.

D. No, information on the link between the budget and the government’s stated policy goals for a multi-year period is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: While the Multiyear Budget Framework for the three-year period was approved, it does notrefer to sustainability conditions and it does not include specifically programs or projects as of 2016.Also, this document was not available before its enactment by the National Assembly either.

PEER REVIEWER


049. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present nonfinancial data on inputs tobe acquired for at least the budget year?

A. Yes, nonfinancial data on inputs to be acquired are provided for each program within alladministrative units (or functions).

B. Yes, nonfinancial data on inputs to be acquired are presented for all administrative units (orfunctions) but not for all (or any) programs.

C. Yes, nonfinancial data on inputs to be acquired are presented for some programs and/or someadministrative units (or functions).

D. No, nonfinancial data on inputs to be acquired are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


050. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present nonfinancial data on results (interms of outputs or outcomes) for at least the budget year?

A. Yes, nonfinancial data on results are provided for each program within all administrative units (orfunctions).

B. Yes, nonfinancial data on results are presented for all administrative units (or functions) but not for

all (or any) programs.

C. Yes, nonfinancial data on results are presented for some programs and/or some administrative units(or functions).

D. No, nonfinancial data on results are not presented.

D. No, nonfinancial data on results are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


051. Are performance targets assigned to nonfinancial data onresults in the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation?

A. Yes, performance targets are assigned to all nonfinancial data on results.

B. Yes, performance targets are assigned to most nonfinancial data on results.

C. Yes, performance targets are assigned to some nonfinancial data on results.

D. No, performance targets are not assigned to nonfinancial data on results, or the budget does notpresent nonfinancial data on results.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


052. Does the Executive’s Budget Proposal or any supportingbudget documentation present estimates of policies (both newproposals and existing policies) that are intended to benefitdirectly the country’s most impoverished populations in atleast the budget year?

A. Yes, estimates of all policies that are intended to benefit directly the country’s most impoverishedpopulations are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of all policies that are intended to benefit directly the country’s most impoverishedpopulations are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of some but not all policies that are intended to benefit directly the country’s mostimpoverished populations are presented.

D. No, estimates of policies that are intended to benefit directly the country’s most impoverishedpopulations are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


053. Does the executive release to the public its timetable forformulating the Executive’s Budget Proposal (that is, a

formulating the Executive’s Budget Proposal (that is, adocument setting deadlines for submissions from othergovernment entities, such as line ministries or subnationalgovernment, to the Ministry of Finance or whatever centralgovernment agency is in charge of coordinating the budget’sformulation)?

A. Yes, a detailed timetable is released to the public.

B. Yes, a timetable is released, but some details are excluded.

C. Yes, a timetable is released, but it lacks important details.

D. No, a timetable is not issued to the public.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector includes articles that setspecific dates for the presentation of budget documents. Article 27 sets the date in which the MultiyearBudget Framework Proposal must be submitted to the National Assembly. Article 28 sets the date topresent the Global Report, document that includes a kind of six-monthly report of the current fiscal yearand proposals for the draft bill of the following year. Articles 38 and 39 include the dates on which theBudget draft bill shall be submitted by the National Assembly for its approval.

Comments: In spite of the cited regulation, there is no calendar for the formulation of the NationalBudget Bill available to the public. In fact, the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 was submitted tothe National Assembly on a different date to the one stated in the Organic Law of FinancialAdministration of the Public Sector.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: An internal calendar is specially important for the budget preparation process so as toguarantee that the Executive takes into account the opinions of the different departments and andagencies in the budget proposal. This calendar or work schedule exists in the Venezuelan case and is

agencies in the budget proposal. This calendar or work schedule exists in the Venezuelan case and isreported/delivered to all governmental bodies, but it is not a public document.

Section 3. Comprehensiveness of Other Key Budget Documents

054. Does the Pre-Budget Statement present information on themacroeconomic forecast upon which the budget projectionsare based? (The core information must include a discussion ofthe economic outlook with estimates of nominal GDP level,inflation rate, real GDP growth, and interest rates.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for the macroeconomic forecast.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for the macroeconomic forecast.


D. No, information related to the macroeconomic forecast is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The pre-budget document, which in the case of Venezuela corresponds to the Global Report2013, Part VI, of MOST RELEVANT ASPECTS OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM UNDER WHICH THE BUDGETBILL FOR 2014 SHALL BE PREPARED and the statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014,were not available for citizens a month before the EBP was submitted to the National Assembly.

Comments: It should be noted that there is no macroeconomic budget presented in the Global Report

2013. The Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 that was not available to the publicis considerably far from reality.

PEER REVIEWER



055. Does the Pre-Budget Statement present information on thegovernment’s expenditure policies and priorities that will guidethe development of detailed estimates for the upcomingbudget? (The core information must include a discussion ofexpenditure policies and priorities and an estimate of totalexpenditures.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for the government’s expenditure policiesand priorities.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for the government’s expenditure policies and priorities.


D. No, information related to the government’s expenditure policies and priorities is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


056. Does the Pre-Budget Statement present information on thegovernment’s revenue policies and priorities that will guide thedevelopment of detailed estimates for the upcoming budget?(The core information must include a discussion of revenue

policies and priorities and an estimate of total revenues.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for the government’s revenue policies andpriorities.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for the government’s revenue policies and priorities.


D. No, information related to the government’s revenue policies and priorities is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The pre-budget document, which in the case of Venezuela corresponds to the Global Report2013, Part VI, of MOST RELEVANT ASPECTS OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM UNDER WHICH THE BUDGETBILL FOR 2014 SHALL BE PREPARED and the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014, were not availablefor citizens a month before the EBP was submitted to the National Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


057. Does Pre-Budget Statement present three estimates relatedto government borrowing and debt: the amount of net newborrowing required during the budget year; the total debtoutstanding at the end of the budget year; and interestpayments on the debt for the budget year?







Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The pre-budget document, which in the case of Venezuela corresponds to the Global Report2013, Part VI, of MOST RELEVANT ASPECTS OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM UNDER WHICH THE BUDGETBILL FOR 2014 SHALL BE PREPARED and the statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014,were not available for citizens a month before EBP was submitted to the National Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


058. Does the Pre-Budget Statement present estimates of totalexpenditures for a multi-year period (at least two-yearsbeyond the budget year)?

A. Yes, multi-year expenditure estimates are presented.

B. No, multi-year expenditure estimates are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


059. Does the Enacted Budget present expenditure estimates byany of the three expenditure classifications (by administrative,economic, or functional classification)?

A. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents expenditure estimates by all three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, and functional classification).

B. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents expenditure estimates by two of the three expenditureclassifications.

C. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents expenditure estimates by only one of the three expenditureclassifications.

D. No, the Enacted Budget does not present expenditure estimates by any expenditure classification.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 67

Sources: Ley de Presupuesto para el Ejercicio Fiscal 2014, título II, capítulo II: Presupuesto de Gastos yAplicaciones Financieras de la República y título II Presupuesto de Gastos de los Entes descentralizadosfuncionalmente sin fines empresariales. Disponible http://www.onapre.gob.ve/.

Comments: The EBP includes the economic and administrative classifications of expenditure. There isalso a sub-classification according to the system "Classifier of Revenue and Expenditure Accounts,"which is a budgetary administration technical tool, and there are specific programs and subprograms.There is no functional classification of expenditure in this document, this classification is only shown in

the Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014.

PEER REVIEWER


060. Does the Enacted Budget present expenditure estimates forindividual programs?

A. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents estimates for programs accounting for all expenditures.

B. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents estimates for programs accounting for at least two-thirds of, butnot all, expenditures.

C. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents estimates for programs accounting for less than two-thirds ofexpenditures.

D. No, the Enacted Budget does not present expenditure estimates by program.


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Ley de Presupuesto para el Ejercicio Fiscal 2014, título II, capítulo II: Presupuesto de Gastos yAplicaciones Financieras de la República y título III Presupuesto de Gastos de los Entes descentralizadosfuncionalmente sin fines empresariales. Disponible http://www.onapre.gob.ve/.

Comments: While all expenditure in the Law are disaggregated by programs, there are manyexpenditure outside the Budget, as shown in the Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year2014, page 49: "On the other hand, it is necessary to stress that a significant part of social expenditure isexecuted by decentralized entities, specially Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (Pdvsa) and the Fondo deDesarrollo Nacional (Fonden) S.A.

PEER REVIEWER


061. Does the Enacted Budget present revenue estimates bycategory (such as tax and non-tax)?

A. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents revenue estimates by category.

B. No, the Enacted Budget does not present revenue estimates by category.


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Ley de Presupuesto para el ejercicio fiscal 2014, título II, capítulo I: Presupuesto de Ingresos yFuentes de Financiamiento de la República, disponible en http://www.onapre.gob.ve/

PEER REVIEWER


062. Does the Enacted Budget present individual sources ofrevenue?

A. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents individual sources of revenue accounting for all revenue.

B. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents individual sources of revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of,but not all, revenue.

C. Yes, the Enacted Budget presents individual sources of revenue accounting for less than two-thirds ofall revenues.

D. No, the Enacted Budget does not present individual sources of revenue.


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Ley de Presupuesto para el ejercicio fiscal 2014, título II, capítulo I: Presupuesto de Ingresos yFuentes de Financiamiento de la República, disponible en http://www.onapre.gob.ve/

Fuentes de Financiamiento de la República, disponible en http://www.onapre.gob.ve/

Comments: The revenue shown in the budget are disaggregated by sources and of revenue. However,there are several sources of public revenue that are not included such as the Contribution forExtraordinary and Exorbitant Oil Prices.

PEER REVIEWER


063. Does the Enacted Budget present three estimates related togovernment borrowing and debt: the amount of net newborrowing required during the budget year; the total debtoutstanding at the end of the budget year; and interestpayments on the debt for the budget year?






Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 67

Sources: Ley de Presupuesto para el Ejercicio Fiscal 2014. título II, capítulo I (fuentes financieras) ycapítulo II (aplicaciones financieras). Ley Especial de Endeudamiento Anual para el ejercicio fiscal 2014.Disponible en www.onapre.gob.ve

Comments: Neither the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014 nor the Special Indebtedness Lawinclude the total outstanding debt by the end of the budget year. There is a more detailed explanationon the situation of the debt in the Statement of the National Budget Bill for fiscal year 2014, but thisdocuments was not available to the public before the Law was enacted nor now.

http://www.onapre.gob.ve/

PEER REVIEWER


064. What information is provided in the Citizens Budget? (Thecore information must include expenditure and revenue totals,the main policy initiatives in the budget, the macroeconomicforecast upon which the budget is based, and contactinformation for follow-up by citizens.)

A. The Citizens Budget provides information beyond the core elements.

B. The Citizens Budget provides the core information.

C. The Citizens Budget provides information, but it excludes some core elements.

D. The Citizens Budget is not published.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The government does not publish a citizens budget.

Comments: The non governmental organization Transparencia Venezuela did prepare a CitizensBudget.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: A detail to consider is that the government not only does nor "publish" the citizens budget,it does not produce it.

065. How is the Citizens Budget disseminated to the public?

065. How is the Citizens Budget disseminated to the public?

A. A Citizens Budget is disseminated widely through a combination of at least three differentappropriate tools and media (such as the Internet, billboards, radio programs, newspapers, etc.).

B. A Citizens Budget is published by using at least two, but less than three, means of dissemination, butno other dissemination efforts are undertaken by the executive.

C. A Citizens Budget is disseminated only by using one means of dissemination.

D. A Citizens Budget is not published.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The national government does not prepare a citizens budget.

PEER REVIEWER


066. Has the executive established mechanisms to identify thepublic’s requirements for budget information prior topublishing the Citizens Budget?

A. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s requirements for budgetinformation in the Citizen’s Budget, and these mechanisms are accessible and widely used by the public.

B. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s requirements for budgetinformation in the Citizen’s Budget; while these mechanisms are accessible they are not widely used by

the public.

C. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s requirements for budgetinformation in the Citizen’s Budget, but these mechanisms are not accessible.

D. No, the executive has not established any mechanisms to identify the public’s requirements for

D. No, the executive has not established any mechanisms to identify the public’s requirements forbudget information in the Citizen’s Budget.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The national government does not prepare a citizens budget.

PEER REVIEWER


067. Are “citizens” versions of budget documents publishedthroughout the budget process?

A. A citizens version of budget documents is published for each of the four stages of the budget process(budget formulation, enactment, execution, and audit).

B. A citizens version of budget documents is published for at least two of the four stages of the budgetprocess.

C. A citizens version of budget documents is published for at least one stage of the budget process.

D. No citizens version of budget documents is published.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The Executive does no prepare a version of the citizens budget of any of the budgetdocuments.

PEER REVIEWER



068. Do the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures by anyof the three expenditure classifications (by administrative,economic, or functional classification)?

A. Yes, the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures by all three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, and functional classification).

B. Yes, the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures by two of the three expenditure classifications.

C. Yes, the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures by only one of the three expenditureclassifications.

D. No, the In-Year Reports do not present actual expenditures by any expenditure classification.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No, the national government does not submit in-year reports on budget execution.

Comments: While all public administrative units are required to submit quarterly budget executionreports , both to the Ministry of Planning and the Comptroller General of the Republic, the NationalExecutive does not present the consolidation of public expenditure by quarter or every six months.

PEER REVIEWER


069. Do the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures forindividual programs?

A. Yes, the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures for programs accounting for all expenditures.

B. Yes, the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures for programs accounting for at least two-thirdsof, but not all, expenditures.

C. Yes, the In-Year Reports present actual expenditures for programs accounting for less than two-thirdsof expenditures.

D. No, the In-Year Reports do not present actual expenditures by program.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


Comments: ONAPRE and the Ministry of Finance did not publish budget data or reports by programduring the fiscal year, but the Central Bank, on its monthly reports, published some data and budgetanalysis, but those reports are not produced/published.

070. Do the In-Year Reports compare actual year-to-dateexpenditures with either the original estimate for that period(based on the enacted budget) or the same period in theprevious year?

A. Yes, comparisons are made for expenditures presented in the In-Year Reports.

B. No, comparisons are not made for expenditures presented in the In-Year Reports.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


071. Do In-Year Reports present actual revenue by category(such as tax and non-tax)?

A. Yes, In-Year Reports present actual revenue by category.

B. No, In-Year Reports do not present actual revenue by category.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


Comments: I agree with the answer, however, it should be noted the fiscal entity (SENIAT) publishes inits reports and website (www.seniat.gov.ve) some data with the evolution of non oil tax revenue duringthe fiscal year.

072. Do In-Year Reports present the individual sources ofrevenue for actual revenues collected?

http://www.seniat.gov.ve/

A. Yes, In-Year Reports present individual sources of actual revenue accounting for all revenue.

B. Yes, In-Year Reports present individual sources of actual revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of,but not all, revenue.

C. Yes, In-Year Reports present individual sources of actual revenue accounting for less than two-thirdsof all revenue.

D. No, In-Year Reports do not present individual sources of actual revenue.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: The National Customs and Taxation Service (SENIAT), which reports to the Ministry ofEconomy, Finance and Public Banking, discloses the collection statistics of the main non oil nationaltaxes month by month, on the websitehttp://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html, already cited above.

Comments: The resources included in the link of statistics of the website of the SENIAT in 2014accounted for 41% of the total resources managed by the National Executive. The revenue obtainedfrom taxes paid by the government oil company PDVSA and other companies with hydrocarbonactivities are not included. Neither is included the collections from contributions to Social Security,Housing Saving Fund, Organic Law of Science and Technology, National Anti Drugs Fund, National SportsFund, among others. No budget report is prepared during the year, since it does no show comparisonsbetween actual collections and estimated data, nor does it show information on the execution ofexpenditure or the situation of the debt.

PEER REVIEWER


Suggested Answer: b.

Comments: The fiscal entity posts online (www.seniat.gov.ve) or in print different tax repots, amongthem the reports called 'Net Non Oil Tax Collection under the Seniat,' that could be consideredbudgetary supporting documents, and they include some of the individual sources of revenue for yearspreceding the budget year.http://www.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/


http://www.seniat.gov.ve/


5-3.html


We have changed the answer from D to C.

073. Do the In-Year Reports compare actual year-to-daterevenues with either the original estimate for that period(based on the enacted budget) or the same period in theprevious year?

A. Yes, comparisons are made for revenues presented in the In-Year Reports.

B. No, comparisons are not made for revenues presented in the In-Year Reports.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The national government does not submit budget execution reports during the year.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: The fiscal entity (Seniat) only publishes some data with the evolution of tax collection of thecurrent budget year and some years. I think it is convenient to review the data from the Seniat toconfirm the rating.

074. Do In-Year Reports present three estimates related to actualgovernment borrowing and debt: the amount of net newborrowing; the total debt outstanding; and interest payments?







Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


075. Do In-Year Reports present information related to thecomposition of the total actual debt outstanding? (The coreinformation must include interest rates on the debtinstruments; maturity profile of the debt; and whether it isdomestic or external debt.)

A. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for the composition of the total actual debtoutstanding.

B. Yes, the core information is presented for the composition of the total actual debt outstanding.


D. No, information related to composition of total actual debt outstanding is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


076. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget include an updatedmacroeconomic forecast for the budget year underway?

A. Yes, the estimates for the macroeconomic forecast have been updated, and an explanation of all ofthe differences between the original and updated forecasts is presented.

B. Yes, the estimates for macroeconomic forecast have been updated, and an explanation of some ofthe differences between the original and updated forecasts is presented.

C. Yes, the estimates for macroeconomic forecast have been updated, but an explanation of thedifferences between the original and updated forecast is not presented.

D. No, the estimates for macroeconomic forecast have not been updated.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


077. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget include updatedexpenditure estimates for the budget year underway?

expenditure estimates for the budget year underway?

A. Yes, expenditure estimates have been updated, and an explanation of all of the differences betweenthe original and updated expenditure estimates is presented.

B. Yes, expenditure estimates have been updated, and an explanation of some of the differencesbetween the original and updated expenditure estimates is presented.

C. Yes, expenditure estimates have been updated, but an explanation of the differences between theoriginal and updated expenditure estimates is not presented.

D. No, expenditure estimates have not been updated.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


078. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget presentexpenditure estimates by any of the three expenditureclassifications (by administrative, economic, or functionalclassification)?

A. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents expenditure estimates by all three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, and functional classification).

B. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents expenditure estimates by two of the three expenditureclassifications.

C. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents expenditure estimates by only one of the three expenditureclassifications.

D. No, the Mid-Year Review does not present expenditure estimates by any expenditure classification.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


079. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget presentexpenditure estimates for individual programs?

A. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents estimates for programs accounting for all expenditures.

B. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents estimates for programs accounting for at least two-thirds of, butnot all, expenditures.

C. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents estimates for programs accounting for less than two-thirds ofexpenditures.

D. No, the Mid-Year Review does not present expenditure estimates by program.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


080. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget include updatedrevenue estimates for the budget year underway?

A. Yes, revenue estimates have been updated, and an explanation of all of the differences between theoriginal and updated revenue estimates is presented.

B. Yes, revenue estimates have been updated, and an explanation of some of the differences betweenthe original and updated revenue estimates is presented.

C. Yes, revenue estimates have been updated, but an explanation of the differences between theoriginal and updated revenue estimates is not presented.

D. No, revenue estimates have not been updated.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: It should be noted that the National Customs and Taxation Service (SENIAT), bodyresponsible for the collection of the main non oil national taxes provides monthly the collection level ofeach tax under its responsibility athttp://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html. However, no comparisons are made between original estimations and actualcollections. Information on all revenue is not included either.

PEER REVIEWER


081. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget present revenueestimates by category (such as tax and non-tax)?


A. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents revenue estimates by category.

B. No, the Mid-Year Review does not present revenue estimates by category.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


Comments: It should be noted that the National Customs and Taxation Service (SENIAT), bodyresponsible for the collection of the main non oil national taxes provides monthly the collection level ofeach tax under its responsibility athttp://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html. However, no comparisons are made between original estimations and actualcollections. Information on all revenue is not included either.

PEER REVIEWER


082. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget present individualsources of revenue?

A. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents individual sources of revenue accounting for all revenue.

B. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents individual sources of revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of,but not all, revenue.

C. Yes, the Mid-Year Review presents individual sources of revenue accounting for less than two-thirdsof all revenues.

D. No, the Mid-Year Review does not present individual sources of revenue.


Venezuela, RB


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


Comments: It should be noted that the National Customs and Taxation Service (SENIAT), bodyresponsible for the collection of the main non oil national taxes, provides monthly the collection level ofeach tax under its responsibility athttp://declaraciones.seniat.gob.ve/portal/page/portal/MANEJADOR_CONTENIDO_SENIAT/05MENU_HORIZONTAL/5-3.html. However, no comparisons are made between original estimations and actualcollections. Information on all revenue is not included either.

PEER REVIEWER


083. Does the Mid-Year Review of the budget include updatedestimates of government borrowing and debt, including itscomposition, for the budget year underway?

A. Yes, estimates of government borrowing and debt have been updated, and information on all of thedifferences between the original and updated estimates is presented.

B. Yes, estimates of government borrowing and debt have been updated, and information on some ofthe differences between the original and updated estimates is presented.

C. Yes, estimates of government borrowing and debt have been updated, but information on thedifferences between the original and updated estimates is not presented.

D. No, estimates of government borrowing and debt have not been updated.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0



PEER REVIEWER


084. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe enacted levels (including in-year changes approved by thelegislature) and the actual outcome for expenditures?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for allexpenditures are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for allexpenditures are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for some butnot all expenditures are presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for expendituresare not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report and Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report and Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport and Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includescomparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.

However, it is not publicly available.

Comments: The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, states in its article 237 theobligation of the President to submit to the National Assembly a report on the political, economic, socialand administrative aspects of its administration for the immediately preceding year and the Organic

and administrative aspects of its administration for the immediately preceding year and the OrganicLaw of Financial Administration of the Public Sector (LOAFSP) states between articles 59 and 61 the needto prepare execution reports, however, the year-end reports for 2012 and 2013 are not available. Thesereports were formally requested in writing to the Ministries of Office of the Presidency, Finances,Planning and the National Assembly, but none of these bodies submitted the information. It should benoted that the document Global Report 2013, whose legal origin is the Organic Law of FinancialAdministration of the Public Sector Article 28, includes the budget execution for 2012 and thedifferences regarding what is approved in the Budget Law, as stated in the regulation: ""The NationalExecutive shall annually submit to National Assembly, before July 15, a global report including thefollowing: 1. The evaluation of the execution of the budget law of the preceding year, compared to thebudgets approved by the National Assembly, with the explanation of the differences regarding revenue,expenditure and financial results."" The Global Report 2013 was prepared for internal purposes, it is notpublicly available.

PEER REVIEWER


085. Does the Year-End Report present expenditure estimates byany of the three expenditure classifications (by administrative,economic, or functional classification)?

A. Yes, the Year-End Report presents expenditure estimates by all three expenditure classifications (byadministrative, economic, and functional classification).

B. Yes, the Year-End Report presents expenditure estimates by two of the three expenditureclassifications.

C. Yes, the Year-End Report presents expenditure estimates by only one of the three expenditureclassifications.

D. No, the Year-End Report does not present expenditure estimates by any expenditure classification.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report and Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report and Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport and Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includescomparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.However, it is not publicly available.

PEER REVIEWER


086. Does the Year-End Report present expenditure estimatesfor individual programs?

A. Yes, the Year-End Report presents estimates for programs accounting for all expenditures.

B. Yes, the Year-End Report presents estimates for programs accounting for at least two-thirds of, butnot all, expenditures.

C. Yes, the Year-End Report presents estimates for programs accounting for less than two-thirds ofexpenditures.

D. No, the Year-End Report does not present expenditure estimates by program.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report and Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report and Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport and Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includes

comparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.However, it is not publicly available.

PEER REVIEWER

PEER REVIEWER


087. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe enacted levels (including in-year changes approved by thelegislature) and the actual outcome for revenues?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for all revenuesare presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for all revenuesare presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for some butnot all revenues are presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the enacted levels and the actual outcome for revenues arenot presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report and Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report and Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport and Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includescomparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.However, it is not publicly available.

PEER REVIEWER


088. Does the Year-End Report present revenue estimates bycategory (such as tax and non-tax)?

category (such as tax and non-tax)?

A. Yes, the Year-End Report presents revenue estimates by category.

B. No, the Year-End Report does not present revenue estimates by category.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report on Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report on Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport on Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includescomparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.However, it is not publicly available.

PEER REVIEWER


089. Does the Year-End Report present individual sources ofrevenue?

A. Yes, the Year-End Report presents individual sources of revenue accounting for all revenue.

B. Yes, the Year-End Report presents individual sources of revenue accounting for at least two-thirds of,but not all, revenue.

C. Yes, the Year-End Report presents individual sources of revenue accounting for less than two-thirdsof all revenues.D. No, the Year-End Report does not present individual sources of revenue.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


090. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe original estimates of government borrowing and debt,including its composition, for the fiscal year and the actualoutcome for that year?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original estimates of government borrowing anddebt for the fiscal year and the actual outcome for that year are presented, along with a narrativediscussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between all the original estimates of government borrowing anddebt for the fiscal year and the actual outcome for that year are presented, but a narrative discussion isnot included.

C. Yes, estimates of the differences between some but not all of the original estimates of governmentborrowing and debt for the fiscal year and the actual outcome for that year are presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the original estimates of government borrowing and debtfor the fiscal year and the actual outcome for that year is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


091. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe original macroeconomic forecast for the fiscal year and theactual outcome for that year?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original macroeconomic assumptions for thefiscal year and the actual outcome for that year are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between all the original macroeconomic assumptions for the fiscalyear and the actual outcome for that year are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of the differences between some but not all of the original macroeconomicassumptions for the fiscal year and the actual outcome for that year are presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the original macroeconomic forecast for the fiscal year andthe actual outcome for that year is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report on Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report on Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport on Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includes

Report on Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includescomparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.However, it is not publicly available.

PEER REVIEWER


092. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe original estimates of nonfinancial data on inputs and theactual outcome?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original estimates of nonfinancial data on inputsand the actual outcome are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original estimates of nonfinancial data on inputsand the actual outcome are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimate of the differences between some but not all of the original estimates of nonfinancialdata on inputs and the actual outcome are presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the original estimates of nonfinancial data on inputs andthe actual outcome are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report on Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report on Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport on Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includes

comparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.However, it is not publicly available.

PEER REVIEWER

PEER REVIEWER


093. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe original estimates of nonfinancial data on results and theactual outcome?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original estimates of nonfinancial data on resultsand the actual outcome are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original estimates of nonfinancial data on resultsand the actual outcome are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimate of the differences between some but not all of the original estimates of nonfinancialdata on results and the actual outcome are presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the original estimates of nonfinancial data on results andthe actual outcome are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: "No. The year-end report known in Venezuela as Annual Report on Accounts was submitted tothe National Assembly but, nor the Annual Report on Accounts corresponding to 2012 or the AnnualReport on Accounts corresponding to 2013 are publicly available. Another document that includescomparative information between what was approved on the Budget Law and what was effectivelyexecuted in the Global Report, is to be submitted to the National Assembly before July 15 every year.However, it is not publicly available.

PEER REVIEWER


094. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe enacted level of funds for policies (both new proposals and

the enacted level of funds for policies (both new proposals andexisting policies) that are intended to benefit directly thecountry’s most impoverished populations and the actualoutcome?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted level for all policies that are intended tobenefit directly the country’s most impoverished populations and the actual outcome are presented,along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted level for all policies that are intended tobenefit directly the country’s most impoverished populations and the actual outcome are presented,but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of the differences between the enacted level for some but not all of the policies thatare intended to benefit directly the country’s most impoverished populations and the actual outcomeare presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the enacted level for policies that are intended to benefitdirectly the country’s most impoverished populations and the actual outcome are not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


095. Does the Year-End Report present the differences betweenthe original estimates of extra-budgetary funds and the actual

the original estimates of extra-budgetary funds and the actualoutcome?

A. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original estimates of extra-budgetary funds andthe actual outcome are presented, along with a narrative discussion.

B. Yes, estimates of the differences between all of the original estimates of extra-budgetary funds andthe actual outcome are presented, but a narrative discussion is not included.

C. Yes, estimates of the differences between some but not all of the original estimates of extra-budgetary funds and the actual outcome are presented.

D. No, estimates of the differences between the original estimates of extra-budgetary funds and theactual outcome is not presented.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


096. Is a financial statement included as part of the Year-EndReport or released as a separate report?

A. Yes, a financial statement is part of the Year-End Report or is released as a separate report.

B. No, a financial statement is neither part of the Year-End Report nor released as a separate report.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0


PEER REVIEWER


097. What type of audits (compliance, financial, or performance)has the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) conducted and madeavailable to the public?

A. The SAI has conducted all three types of audits (compliance, financial, or performance) and madethem available to the public.

B. The SAI has conducted two of the three types of audits, and made them available to the public.

C. The SAI has conducted one of the three types of audits, and made them available to the public.

D. The SAI has not conducted any of the three types of audits, or has not made them available to thepublic.


Venezuela, RB

B.

B.

Score: 67

Sources: Article 42 of the Organic Law of the Comptroller General of the Republic establishes that thereshall be financial audits, regulatory compliance audits, achievement of goals and objectives audits andcompliance of the efficiency and effectiveness principles audits. Article 62 of the Law also includesmanagement control. However, the annex (http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027)to the management report 2013 (http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_management.php?Cod=026),which reflects actions conducted in 2012, mostly shows regulatory compliance and financial audits. Page47 of the annex to the cited management report includes the summary of the action conducted inPropatria 2000, aimed at verifying the compliance with the technical, legal and sublegal specificationsduring the execution of three agreements and three inspections associated to the completion anddelivery of the work: parking lot of the Comptroller General of the Republic, on page 49 it is concludedthat there were serious deficiencies in the supervision, execution and inspection of the agreements.Page 82 of the report of the actions conducted includes the financial audit (review of account) to theDirectorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) of the Ministry of Defense. It is stated that it wasconducted a comprehensive analysis of the accounting records and other documents that comprise thefunds in advance of the account National Defense and Security Expenditure, such as: budget and itsamendments relation of received payment orders, bank statements of account and bankreconciliations, bank subsidiary ledger and proof of expenditure, with the purpose of verifying accuracyof the payments made. The audit objective is stated at the beginning of each action.

Comments: tkcidIt should be noted that many actions conducted in 2012 and presented in the 2013Report were applied to the Internal Audit Units (entities that are part of the National Fiscal ControlSystem), of different institutions of the national government. In conversation with an official of theNational Fiscal Control System, we found that there is no planning tradition in Venezuela, soorganizations do not have goals and indicators properly formulated, therefore it is hard to conductperformance audits. The Comptroller General of the Republic does not publish the reports of thecomplete actions, just a summary of each.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: In general, the departments of the government do not have the technical ability toformulate goals and indicators, that is why it is hard to conduct performance audits. In addition, the

Comptroller General of the Republic does not publish the reports of the complete actions, just asummary of each. This is not only due to management/technical inability, but also by the deficit offinancial and human resources, proven by international comparative parameters, of the Venezuelan SAI.


http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_management.php?Cod=026

098. What percentage of expenditures within the mandate of theSupreme Audit Institution (SAI) has been audited?

A. All expenditures within the SAI’s mandate have been audited.

B. Expenditures representing at least two-thirds of, but not all, expenditures within the SAI’s mandatehave been audited.

C. Expenditures representing less than two-thirds of expenditures within the SAI’s mandate have beenaudited.

D. No expenditures have been audited.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: The Management Report 2013, pages 25 and 26 and their annex on actions(http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027) show that only 30 out of 168 sectors of thenational government existing in Venezuela were audited (see also table of contents on page V); a smallsample of non profit decentralized entities depending on the Republic (only 32 out of 886); a smallsample of state and municipal governments. It was impossible to audit two thirds of expenditure.

Comments: It is curious that in 2012 there was a large number of actions on Internal Audit Units of thebodies of the public authority, whose budget execution amounts are tiny compared to the budget ofthese bodies. (See the table of contents pages V and VI of the annex to the Management Report 2013 ofthe Comptroller General of the Republic).

PEER REVIEWER


099. What percentage of extra-budgetary funds within themandate of the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) has beenaudited?


A. All extra-budgetary funds within the SAI’s mandate have been audited.

B. Extra-budgetary funds accounting for at least two-thirds of, but not all, expenditures associated withextra-budgetary funds within the SAI’s mandate have been audited.

C. Extra-budgetary funds accounting for less than two-thirds of expenditures associated with extra-budgetary funds within the SAI’s mandate have been audited.

D. No extra-budgetary funds have been audited.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The Management Report 2013 of the Comptroller General of the Republic and its annex(http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027), do not include audits to the FondoNacional de Desarrollo (FONDEN), Fondo Chino, Fondo Social de PDVSA, Fondo Miranda, among others.These funds do not appear in table No. 1 of the Management Report 2013, page 25, which includes thefigures of audited entities.

Comments: Extra-budgetary funds are not being formally audited by the Supreme Audit Institution.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: The Comptroller General of the Republic does not have any legal power on extra-budgetaryfunds. Considering that in Venezuela quasi-fiscal funds are a significant part of the finally executedbudget, the transparency and accountability issue is particularly large and serious.

100. Does the annual Audit Report(s) prepared by the SupremeAudit Institution (SAI) include an executive summary?


A. Yes, the annual Audit Report(s) includes one or more executive summaries summarizing the report’scontent.

B. No, the annual Audit Report(s) does not include an executive summary.


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Both the Management Report 2013 of the Comptroller General of the Republic, pages VIII toXV, and the Annex to the Management Report called Actions (Actuaciones) (See the table of contentspages V and VI of the annex to the Management Report 2013 of the Comptroller General of the Republic(http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_doings.php?Cod=027, whole document) include executivesummaries.

Comments: The annex of the Management Report shows a summary of all the actions conducted bythe Superior Audit Institution. The definitive complete reports of the actions are not published. Thesecomplete reports are sent only to those responsible of the administrative units for them to consider therecommendations and corrective actions.

PEER REVIEWER


101. Does the executive make available to the public a report onwhat steps it has taken to address audit recommendations orfindings that indicate a need for remedial action?

A. Yes, the executive reports publicly on what steps it has taken to address audit findings.

B. Yes, the executive reports publicly on most audit findings.

C. Yes, the executive reports publicly on some audit findings.

D. No, the executive does not report on steps it has taken to address audit findings.



Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No, after reviewing several websites of the ministries of the national government, we could notfind documents that report on measures to address the results of the audits.

Comments: The Executive is required to prepare a corrective action plan aimed at the fiscal controlbody, specifying the steps the organization shall take to observe the recommendations included in thecontrol actions reports, pursuant to article 42 of the Government Audit Regulations, however, it doesnot publish it.

PEER REVIEWER


102. Does either the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) or legislaturerelease to the public a report that tracks actions taken by theexecutive to address audit recommendations?

A. Yes, the SAI or legislature reports publicly on what steps the executive has taken to address all auditrecommendations.

B. Yes, the SAI or legislature reports publicly on most audit recommendations.

C. Yes, the SAI or legislature reports publicly on some audit recommendations.

D. No, neither the SAI nor legislature reports on steps the executive has taken to address auditrecommendations.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: While the working program of the SAI includes the follow-up to the recommended correctiveactions, in the follow-up activities of 2013 only included (and conducted) one follow-up of the correctivesteps out of 393 actions. Page 25 of the Management Report 2013 of the Comptroller General of theRepublic (http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_management.php?Cod=026).

PEER REVIEWER


Section 4. Strength of Oversight Institutions

103. Does the legislature have internal capacity to conductbudget analyses or use independent research capacity for suchanalyses?

A. Yes, there is a specialized budget research office/unit attached to the legislature, and it has sufficientstaffing, resources, and analytical capacity to carry out its tasks.

B. Yes, there is a specialized budget research office, but its staffing and other resources, includingadequate funding, are insufficient to carry out its tasks.

C. Yes, there are independent researchers outside the legislature that can perform budget analyses andthe legislature takes advantage of this capacity, but there is no specialized office attached to thelegislature.

D. No, the legislature has neither internal capacity nor access to independent research capacity forbudget analyses.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 67

Sources: According to the organization chart of the National Assemblyhttp://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/institucion#Organigrama, there is a Directorate of Economic and

http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_informes_management.php?Cod=026

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/institucion#Organigrama

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/institucion#Organigrama, there is a Directorate of Economic andFinancial Investigation. The following news link(http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/noticia/show/id/6986) shows some of the responsibilities of theDirectorate, among them the analysis of the EBP submitted by the Executive in October every year.However, the information published in this news proves that more than being a technical team, thedirectorate is comprised of politicians.

Comments: Between 1998 and 2004 there was a work team with expert economists at the Departmentof Economic Consultancy of the National Assembly. However, after conversation with ex members ofthat work team, and due to what has happened to the budgetary policy as from 2008, it is clear thatthere are no real technicians in economy that advise on the legal work on budgetary matters. Accordingto a congresswoman of the Commission of Finances and Economic Development, since 2011 theDirectorate of Economic and Financial Investigation only ratifies the budget information that is providedby the Executive (Ministry of Finance).

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: In the last two decades, there was an attempt to create "Departments of Economic andFinancial Consultancy", for the former Congress of the Republic and the current National Assembly,specially responsible for analyzing budgetary evolution and impact. In both cases excellent technicalteams were formed with financial and technical help of international organizations, but bothdepartments were partially closed or dismantled in financial terms or in human resources, thus losingtechnical ability or relevance in the analysis of public policies and specially regarding budget matters.

104. Does the legislature debate budget policy prior to thetabling of the Executive’s Budget Proposal?

A. Yes, the legislature both debates budget policy prior to the tabling of the Executive’s Budget Proposaland approves recommendations for the budget, and the executive is obliged to reflect the legislature’srecommendations in the budget.

B. Yes, the legislature both debates budget policy prior to the tabling of the Executive’s Budget Proposal

and approves recommendations for the budget, but the executive is not obliged to reflect thelegislature’s recommendations in the budget.

C. Yes, the legislature debates budget policy prior to the tabling of the Executive’s Budget Proposal, butthe legislature does not approve recommendations for the budget.

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/institucion#Organigrama

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/noticia/show/id/6986

D. No, neither the full legislature nor any legislative committee debate budget policy prior to the tablingof the Executive’s Budget Proposal.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: The Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector, article 28, establishes thepresentation to the National Assembly of the Global Report no later than July 15 each year that shallinclude: a document with the most relevant proposals of the EBP for following year, including thegeneral amount of the annual budget, its correspondence with macroeconomic and social goals definedfor the public sector in the multiyear framework of the budget and their sustainability, aimed atproviding the basis for the discussion of the EBP. However, there is no evidence of a debate on budgetpolicy or recommendations derived from it.

PEER REVIEWER


105. Does the executive hold consultations with members of thelegislature as part of its process of determining budgetpriorities?

A. Yes, the executive holds consultations with a wide range of legislators.

B. Yes, the executive holds consultations with a range of legislators, but some key members areexcluded.

C. Yes, the executive holds consultations with only a limited number of legislators.

D. No, the executive does not consult with members of the legislature as part of the budget preparation

process.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: Congress members of the Finance and Audit commissions confirmed that they were notconsulted on the expenditure priorities that shall be addressed in the budget.

PEER REVIEWER



Comments: Traditionally, the Executive holds meetings and consultations with some legislators of theofficial party. For instance, in those meetings, usually the chairmen of the Permanent Commission ofFinance of the National Assembly participate that during the last 14 years have been members of theofficial party.


The website of the National Assembly does not include any proof of said meetings or consultations.There are no press notes either. How can this statement be proven? It is necessary to have someevidence or source proving that discussions were held and including their recommendations oragreements. It could not be proven that that evidence existed, therefore, the answer was "D"

106. How far in advance of the start of the budget year does thelegislature receive the Executive’s Budget Proposal?

A. The legislature receives the Executive’s Budget Proposal at least three months before the start of thebudget year.

B. The legislature receives the Executive’s Budget Proposal at least six weeks, but less than threemonths, before the start of the budget year.

C. The legislature receives the Executive’s Budget Proposal less than six weeks before the start of thebudget year.

D. The legislature does not receive the Executive’s Budget Proposal before the start of the budget year.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 67

Sources: Article 38 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration states: "The EBP shall be submitted bythe Executive to the National Assembly no later than October 15 of each year." The fiscal year starts onJanuary 1st of the following year. http://www.finanzasdigital.com/2013/10/merentes-consigno-proyecto-de-ley-de-presupuesto-nacional-para-2014-ante-la-an/ http://www.infobae.com/2013/11/06/1521639-venezuela-la-asamblea-nacional-aprobo-el-presupuesto-2014http://www.notimerica.com/economia/noticia-venezuela-asamblea-nacional-venezuela-aprueba-presupuesto-2014-20131106102237.html"

PEER REVIEWER


107. When does the legislature approve the Executive’s BudgetProposal?

A. The legislature approves the budget at least one month in advance of the start of the budget year.

B. The legislature approves the budget less than one month in advance of the start of the budget year,but at least by the start of the budget year.

C. The legislature approves the budget less than one month after the start of the budget year.

D. The legislature approves the budget more than one month after the start of the budget year, or doesnot approve the budget.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 67

Sources: The Organic Law of the Financial Administration of the Public Sector, article 39, establishes themaximum deadline for the approval of the Budget Law is December 15. The 2014 Budget was enactedon December 10, 2013, as stated in the following official press release:

http://www.infobae.com/2013/11/06/1521639-venezuela-la-asamblea-nacional-aprobo-el-presupuesto-2014

http://www.notimerica.com/economia/noticia-venezuela-asamblea-nacional-venezuela-aprueba-presupuesto-2014-20131106102237.html

on December 10, 2013, as stated in the following official press release:http://www.minci.gob.ve/2013/12/aprobado-proyecto-de-ley-de-presupuesto-2014/

Comments:

PEER REVIEWER


108. Does the legislature have the authority in law to amend theExecutive’s Budget Proposal?

A. Yes, the legislature has unlimited authority in law to amend the Executive’s Budget Proposal.

B. Yes, the legislature has authority in law to amend the Executive’s Budget Proposal, with somelimitations.

C. Yes, the legislature has authority in law to amend the Executive’s Budget Proposal, but its authority isvery limited.

D. No, the legislature does not have any authority in law to amend the Executive’s Budget Proposal.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: Article 187, number 6 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela grants theNational Assembly the power to "discuss and approve the national budget and any bill regarding fiscalregime and public credit." Also article 38 of the Organic Law of the Financial Administration states thepower of the National Assembly, as the organization that shall be recipient of various budgetarydocuments: the global report, the statement of the EBP, the multiyear budget framework.

Comments: The powers stated in Article 187, number 6 of the Constitution and 38 of the Organic Lawof Financial Administration of the Public Sector do not specify the possibility of the National Assembly tomodifying deficit sizes, amounts of revenue or decreasing funds. It is understood that it can change theallocation of proposed amounts between programs, but not total amounts. It should be noted that it isclear that the National Assembly has power of veto, that is to say that it can veto the budget submitted

and request the presentation of a new bill in case, there is no simple majority. The recommendations ofthe National Assembly shall be adopted, but since the Parliament has official majority, budgets areapproved in commissions and plenary session with no recommendations.

PEER REVIEWER


109. Does the executive seek input from the legislature prior toshifting funds between administrative units that receiveexplicit funding in the Enacted Budget, and is it legally requiredto do so?

A. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior toshifting funds between administrative units, and it does so in practice.

B. The executive obtains approval or input from the legislature prior to shifting funds betweenadministrative units, but is not required to do so by law or regulation.

C. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior toshifting funds between administrative units, but in practice the executive shifts funds without seekingprior approval or input from the legislature.

D. The executive shifts funds between administrative units without seeking prior approval or input fromthe legislature, and there is no law or regulation requiring it to obtain such prior approval or input fromthe legislature.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: Article 52 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector and article 83 ofthe Regulation No. 1 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector, require theapproval of the National Assembly only if the total amount of the budget of the bodies of the republic isincreased and if the resources do not come from inadequacies (annulment of credits of otherprograms). Article 84 of the cited Regulation grants the President of the Republic in the council of

Ministers the power to transfer funds between administrative units.

Comments: The approval of the legislature is not required for the change of funds betweenadministrative units, pursuant to article 84 of the Regulation No. 1 of the LOAFSP. The approval of theNational Assembly is required only if the total amount of the budget is increased.

PEER REVIEWER


110. Does the executive seek input from the legislature prior toshifting funds within administrative units that receive explicitfunding in the Enacted Budget, and is it legally required to doso?

A. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior toshifting funds within administrative units, and it does so in practice.

B. The executive obtains approval or input from the legislature prior to shifting funds withinadministrative units, but is not required to do so by law or regulation.

C. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior toshifting funds within administrative units, but in practice the executive shifts funds without seeking priorapproval or input from the legislature.

D. The executive shifts funds within administrative units without seeking prior approval or input fromthe legislature, and there is no law or regulation requiring it to obtain such prior approval or input fromthe legislature.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: Articles 85, 86 and 87 of the Regulation No. 1 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration ofthe Public Sector, entitles the President of the Republic, the heads of payment authorizing bodies, andthe head of the National Budget Office, respectively, the power to change funs within administrative

the head of the National Budget Office, respectively, the power to change funs within administrativeunits (programs and projects) according to various cases that may arise. The National Assembly is onlyrequired to approve amounts that increase the total amount approved in the budget.

Comments: These modifications are to be notified only to the National Budget Office and the NationalTreasury Office, without the approval of the National Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


111. Does the executive seek input from the legislature prior tospending excess revenue (that is, amounts higher thanoriginally anticipated) that may become available during thebudget execution period, and is it legally required to do so?

A. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior tospending excess revenues, and it does so in practice.

B. The executive obtains approval or input from the legislature prior to spending excess revenue, but isnot required to do so by law or regulation.

C. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior tospending excess revenue, but in practice the executive spends these funds without seeking priorapproval or input from the legislature.

D. The executive spends excess revenues without seeking prior approval or input from the legislature,and there is no law or regulation requiring it to obtain such prior approval or input from the legislature.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: Article 52 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector and article 83 ofthe Regulation No. 1 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector, establish thatonly the National Assembly can increase the total amounts projected. However, through the Law thatcreated the Special Contribution for Extraordinary Prices and Exorbitant Prices in the InternationalHydrocarbon Market Official Gazette No. 40.114, surplus revenue can be allocated to the Fondo de

Desarrollo Nacional (FONDEN, National Development Fund) and other funds.

Comments: In addition to the FONDEN, the national government has created other Funds to whichsurplus resources are given without the approval of the National Assembly: Fondo de Desarrollo Socialde PDVS, Fondo Independencia, Fondo Miranda. The resources allocated to these funds in 2012 can beseen in table No. 5, Savings - Investment account of the Republic, section II of the Global Report 2013.This document is no publicly available, it was obtained via the website of the congressman to theNational Assembly Carlos Ramos.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: A clear piece of evidence in this regard is the systematic underestimation of the price of oilin the national budget for the last years, to then, after obtaining fiscal revenue higher than theestimated, have more discretion in the budget execution by two approaches: additional credits toministries, departments and regional government and systematic contributions to extra-budgetaryfunds such as FONDEN.

112. When was the most recent supplemental budget approved?

A. The most recent supplemental budget was approved before the funds were expended.

B. The most recent supplemental budget was approved after the funds were expended, or the executiveimplemented the supplemental budget without ever receiving approval from the legislature (pleasespecify).


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Article 52 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector and article 83 ofthe Regulation No. 1 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector, requires theNational Assembly to approve the increases of the expenditure agreed in the Budget Law. Article 314 ofthe Constitution also states the necessary authorization of the National Assembly to decree additionalcredits. All additional credits shall be published on Official Gazettes. From January 15, 2014 (Official

Gazette No. 40.334) to December 29, 2014 (Official Gazette No. 40.570) additional credits were approvedsupplementary budgets) in 41 sessions of the National Assembly.

Comments: Various regulations require that the legislature authorizes the increase of any expenditureitem not included in the enacted budget. This option intended to enable flexibility for contingencies wasused indiscriminately; during 2014 the expenditure through supplementary budgets was higher thanthe originally approved amount, specifically, the expenditure rose 106%. The information that supportsthese additional credits is insufficient and shows improvisation in the budget process and obscurityabout the origin of the resources.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: The systematic use of supplementary credits is of the most remarkable characteristics ofthe Venezuelan budget process. For instance, for budget year 2013-2014, the amount of approvedadditional credits almost doubled the level of the originally agreed budget by the National Assembly forthe fiscal year.


Additional note: From January 15, 2014 to December 29, 2014 additional credits were approved(supplementary budgets), so the originally approved budget grew 106% with supplementary budgets.Those credits went through the National Assembly and were published in the Official Gazette. However,I should point out that, as there are parallel funds for the budget, there are expenditure that do not gothrough the Assembly for instance the social expenditure executed by the oil company PDVSA.

113. Does the executive seek input from the legislature prior tospending contingency funds or other funds for which nospecific purpose was identified in the Enacted Budget, and is itlegally required to do so?

A. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior tospending contingency funds, and it does so in practice.

B. The executive obtains approval or input from the legislature prior to spending contingency funds, butis not required to do so by law or regulation.

C. The executive is required by law or regulation to obtain approval or input from the legislature prior tospending contingency funds, but in practice the executive spends these funds without seeking priorapproval or input from the legislature.

approval or input from the legislature.

D. The executive spends contingency funds without seeking prior approval or input from the legislature,and there is no law or regulation requiring it to obtain such prior approval or input from the legislature.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: Article 53 of the Organic Law of Financial Administration of the Public Sector grants thePresident the power to use the contingency fund (budget correction item), without the priorauthorization of the National Assembly.

Comments: The item corrections to the budget accounts for 0.5% and 1% of the budgeted commonrevenue. The President may use the funds to increase other items of the budget without theauthorization of the National Assembly. He is required to publish the information on the OfficialGazette.

PEER REVIEWER


114. Does a committee of the legislature hold public hearings toreview and scrutinize Audit Reports?

A. Yes, a committee holds public hearings to review and scrutinize a wide range of Audit Reports.

B. Yes, a committee holds public hearings to review and scrutinize the main Audit Reports.

C. Yes, a committee holds public hearings to review and scrutinize a small number of Audit Reports.

D. No, a committee does not hold public hearings to review and scrutinize Audit Reports.


Venezuela, RB

C.

C.

Score: 33

Sources: The National Assembly have a Permanent Audit Commission that holds hearings to analyze areduced number of reports.

Comments: The website of the National Assembly, in the link referred to the reports of the permanentcommissions does not have information on the Permanent Audit Commission.

PEER REVIEWER


115. Does the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) have the discretionin law to undertake those audits it may wish to?

A. The SAI has full discretion to decide which audits it wishes to undertake.

B. The SAI has significant discretion, but faces some limitations.

C. The SAI has some discretion, but faces considerable limitations.

D. The SAI has no discretion to decide which audits it wishes to undertake.


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Articles 46 and 62 of the Organic Law of the Comptroller General of the Republic and theNational Fiscal Control System grant the SAI the power to decide what audits to conduct. Also, theConstitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in articles 287 to 289 mentions the functional,

administrative and organizational autonomy of the Comptrollership and its powers that enable thetaking of decisions without restrictions.

PEER REVIEWER



116. Has the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) established amonitoring system to provide on-going, independentevaluations of its audit processes (a quality assurance system)?

A. Yes, the SAI has established a quality assurance system, and both a sample of completed audits arereviewed annually and the findings of these reviews are made available to the public.

B. Yes, the SAI has established a quality assurance system, but either a sample of completed audits arenot reviewed annually or the findings of these reviews are not made available to the public.

C. Yes, the SAI has established a quality assurance system, but neither a sample of completed audits arereviewed annually nor are the findings of these reviews made available to the public.

D. No, the SAI has not established a quality assurance system.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: According to the strategic plan of the Comptroller General of the Republic 2009 - 2015(http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_content.php?Cod=061) the institutional objectives include the qualitycontrol of the audit processes (objective number 2) and the strengthening of the internal control(objective number 5). In each Directorate there is a coordinator and a lawyer who review and validate allaudit reports conducted. Human resources (auditors) are permanently being trained on the correctprocedure of their work.

Comments: The organization chart of the organization does not include a quality control or monitoringunit of the work done. The Management Report 2013 does not show quality controls or the publicationof audit samples either. Officials of the Comptrollership reported that the coordinators and lawyers of

each unit are the ones who evaluate each audit report prepared.

PEER REVIEWER


http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_content.php?Cod=061

117. Must a branch of government other than the executive(such as the legislature or the judiciary) give final consentbefore the head of the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) can beremoved from office?

A. Yes, the head of the SAI may only be removed by the legislature or judiciary, or the legislature orjudiciary must give final consent before he or she is removed.

B. No, the executive may remove the head of the SAI without the final consent of the judiciary orlegislature.


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Article 22 of the Organic Law of Citizens Branch, to which the Comptroller General of theRepublic belongs, states: "The members of the Republican Moral Council (Comptroller, ombudsmanand/or general attorney) shall be removed from office by the National Assembly, prior sentence of theSupreme Court of Justice in plenary."

PEER REVIEWER


118. Who determines the budget of the Supreme AuditInstitution (SAI)?

A. The budget of the SAI is determined by the legislature or judiciary (or some independent body), andthe funding level is broadly consistent with the resources the SAI needs to fulfill its mandate.

B. The budget of the SAI is determined by the executive, and the funding level is broadly consistent with

the resources the SAI needs to fulfill its mandate.

C. The budget of the SAI is determined by the legislature or judiciary (or some independent body), butthe funding level is not consistent with the resources the SAI needs to fulfill its mandate.

D. The budget of the SAI is determined by the executive, and the funding level is not consistent with theresources the SAI needs to fulfill its mandate.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: Article 273 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and articles 3 and 4 ofthe Organic Law of the Citizens Branch, state that the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) hasfinancial, functional and organizational autonomy. The Budget Law shall assign an item. However, in theBudget Law for fiscal year 2014, the resources allocated to the CGR account for merely 8% of theNational Budget. From 2013 to 2014 the CGR budget fell 40% in nominal terms (it went from 798 millionBolívares executed to 478 million Bolívares). In real terms, it fell over 90% because official inflation in2013 was 56.2%.

Comments: For several years it has been a national policy to plan deficit budgets. Almost all parties ofnational organizations have less resources for 2014 than what it was actually executed in 2013, althoughthere is strong inflation in the country.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: In the last few years, the budget allocated to the Comptroller General of the Republic hasbeen less than 0.4% of the national budget. While the Comptrollership has financial and functionalautonomy, its budgetary restrictions are one of the main reasons that explain its poor capacity ofperformance and its poor ability to comply with its mandate as central comptroller organization of theGovernment. En los ultimo años el presupuesto asignado a la Contraloría General de la Republica hasido menor al 0,4% del presupuesto nacional. Aun cuando la Contraloría cuenta formalmente conautonomía financiera y funcional sus restricciones presupuestarias son una de las razonesfundamentales que explican su muy baja capacidad de actuación y de cumplir con su mandato comoórgano contralor central del Estado.

Section 5. Public Engagement in the Budget Process

119. Does the executive make available to the public clear(accessible, nontechnical) definitions of terms used in thebudget and other budget-related documents (for instance, in aglossary)?

A. Yes, clear definitions of all key budget terms are provided.

B. Yes, definitions are provided for all key budget terms, but they are not always clear.

C. Yes, definitions are provided for some but not all key budget terms.

D. No, definitions are not provided.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 67

Sources: The website of the National Budget Office, ONAPRE, http://www.onapre.gob.ve, in the linkBudget concepts, there are several key concepts, budget principles, stages of the budget process andtypes of budgets.

Comments: However, no concepts of fiscal sustainability, economic, functional and organicclassifications of expenditure are clarified. The difference between tax and non-tax revenue is notpublished.

PEER REVIEWER


120. Is the executive formally required to engage with the publicduring the formulation and execution phases of the budgetprocess?

http://www.onapre.gob.ve/

A. A law, a regulation, or a formal procedural obligation requires the executive to engage with the publicduring both the formulation and execution phases of the budget process.

B. A law, a regulation, or a formal procedural obligation requires the executive to engage with the publicduring either the formulation or the execution phase of the budget process but not both.

C. There is no formal requirement for the executive to engage with the public during either theformulation or the execution phase of the budget process, but informal procedures exist to enable thepublic to engage with the executive during the formulation or execution phase of the budget process orduring both phases.

D. There is no formal requirement and the executive does not engage with the public during the budgetprocess.


Venezuela, RB

A.

Score: 100

Sources: Articles 11 and 12 of the Law Against Corruption (http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_content.php?Cod=015) require the Executive to submit to public consultation the draft bills of the Multiyear BudgetFramework Law and the Budget Law before they are presented to the National Assembly, and thatindividuals have the right to participate in the formulation, evaluation and execution of the budget.

Comments: In spite of this provision of the Law Against Corruption, the draft bills of the MultiyearBudget Framework Law 2014 - 2016 nor the Budget Law for fiscal year 2014 were made publiclyavailable. The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela states in article 211 that the NationalAssembly during the discussion and approval of the draft bills shall consult the citizens and theorganized society to hear their opinions. In addition, our Constitution defines our system as aparticipatory democracy (article 6). That is to say, that the society can participate in the discussion andapproval of the budget. There are specific regulations on the formulation of budgets of states andmunicipalities (subnational governments).

PEER REVIEWER


121. When the executive engages with the public during the


121. When the executive engages with the public during thebudget formulation process, does it articulate what it hopes toachieve from the engagement and provide other informationfar enough in advance so that the public can participate in aninformed manner?

A. The executive provides sufficient information (including what it hopes to achieve from itsengagement with the public) in advance of the engagement.

B. The executive provides information to the public, but it is either insufficient or is not provided inadvance of the engagement.

C. The executive provides information to the public, but it is neither sufficient nor provided in advanceof the engagement.

D. The executive does not provide information, or does not engage with the public during the budgetprocess.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: Key budget documents, prior to the enacted law, were not made publicly available before theirpresentation to the National Assembly.

PEER REVIEWER


122. When the executive engages with the public during thebudget execution process, does it articulate what it hopes toachieve from the engagement and provide other informationfar enough in advance so that the public can participate in an

informed manner?

A. The executive provides sufficient information (including what it hopes to achieve from itsengagement with the public) in advance of the engagement.

B. The executive provides information to the public, but it is either insufficient or is not provided inadvance of the engagement.

C. The executive provides information to the public, but it is neither sufficient nor provided in advanceof the engagement.

D. The executive does not provide information, or does not engage with the public during the budgetprocess.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The Executive does not provide information on budgetary execution to the public.

Comments: In the case of infrastructure projects, billboards are posted with information on the workfor civil society to follow-up, but there is no comprehensive formal process of participation.

PEER REVIEWER


123. Has the executive established mechanisms to identify thepublic’s perspective on budget priorities?

A. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budgetpriorities, and these mechanisms are accessible and widely used by the public.

B. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budget

priorities; while these mechanisms are accessible they are not widely used by the public.

C. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budgetpriorities, but these mechanisms are not accessible.

D. No, the executive has not established any mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budgetpriorities.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: There are no formal mechanisms to collect the opinion of the citizens on expenditurepriorities.

PEER REVIEWER


124. Has the executive established mechanisms to identify thepublic’s perspective on budget execution?

A. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budgetexecution, and these mechanisms are accessible and widely used by the public.

B. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budgetexecution; while these mechanisms are accessible they are not widely used by the public.

C. Yes, the executive has established mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budgetexecution, but these mechanisms are not accessible.

D. No, the executive has not established any mechanisms to identify the public’s perspective on budget

execution.


Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: There are no formal mechanisms to collect the opinion of the citizens on budget execution. Noexisten mecanismos formales para recoger las opiniones de los ciudadanos sobre la ejecuciónpresupuestaria.

Comments: While all public organizations shall have Citizens service offices which would somehow beuseful to collect their opinions, there is no evidence that they are being used to standardize informationon the execution of the budget. Aunque en todos los organismos públicos deben tener oficinas deAtención al Ciudadano y de alguna manera servirían para recoger opiniones, no hay evidencia de queestén siendo utilizadas para sistematizar información sobre la ejecución del presupuesto.

PEER REVIEWER


125. Does the executive provide formal, detailed feedback to thepublic on how its inputs have been used to develop budgetplans and improve budget execution?

A. Yes, the executive issues reports on the inputs it received from the public and provides detailedfeedback on how these inputs have been used.

B. Yes, the executive issues reports on the inputs it received from the public, but provides only limitedfeedback on how these inputs have been used.

C. Yes, the executive issues reports on the inputs it received from the public, but provides no feedbackon how these inputs have been used.

D. No, the executive does not issue reports on the inputs it received from the public or providefeedback on how these inputs have been used.


Venezuela, RB

D.

D.

Score: 0

Sources: There is no evidence of public consultation in the formulation, approval and implementationprocess of the budget.

PEER REVIEWER


126. Does a legislative committee (or committees) hold publichearings on the macroeconomic and fiscal frameworkpresented in the budget in which testimony from the executivebranch and the public is heard?

A. Yes, public hearings are held on the macroeconomic and fiscal framework in which testimony isheard from the executive branch and a wide range of constituencies.

B. Yes, public hearings are held on the macroeconomic and fiscal framework in which testimony isheard from the executive branch and some constituencies.

C. Yes, public hearings are held on the macroeconomic and fiscal framework in which testimony fromthe executive branch is heard, but no testimony from the public is heard.

D. No, public hearings are not held on the macroeconomic and fiscal framework in which testimonyfrom the executive branch and the public is heard.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: The Permanent Finances and Economic Development Commission of the National Assemblyanalyzes the macroeconomic framework and hears the testimony of the Minister of finance whenhe/she submits the Budget bill, but no members of the civil society of the organized community areinvited to participate in these discussions.

Comments: There are no management reports available on the website of the National Assembly of thePermanent Finances and Economic Development Commission regarding 2013.

PEER REVIEWER


127. Do legislative committees hold public hearings on theindividual budgets of central government administrative units(i.e., ministries, departments, and agencies) in which testimonyfrom the executive branch is heard?

A. Yes, public hearings in which testimony from the executive branch is heard are held on the budgetsof a wide range of administrative units.

B. Yes, public hearings in which testimony from the executive branch is heard are held on the budgetsof the main administrative units.

C. Yes, public hearings in which testimony from the executive branch is heard are held on the budgetsof a small number of administrative units.

D. No, public hearings in which testimony from the executive branch is heard are not held on thebudgets of administrative units.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: The Finances and Economic Development Commission do hold hearings of some of theadministrative units, with the attendance of technical teams of the the organizations and in some casesthe minister or corresponding authority.

PEER REVIEWER


128. Do legislative committees hold public hearings on the

128. Do legislative committees hold public hearings on theindividual budgets of central government administrative units(i.e., ministries, departments, and agencies) in which testimonyfrom the public is heard?

A. Yes, public hearings in which testimony from the public is heard are held on the budgets of a widerange of administrative units.

B. Yes, public hearings in which testimony from the public is heard are held on the budgets of someadministrative units.

C. Yes, public hearings in which testimony from the public is heard are held on the budgets of a smallnumber of administrative units.

D. No, public hearings in which testimony from the public is heard are not held on the budgets ofadministrative units.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: No civil organizations or representatives of the society are invited to share their opinion inpublic hearings on the budgets of administrative units.

PEER REVIEWER



Comments: I suggest the researchers enquire even more on the issue, because certainly thegovernment has implemented what has been called "street parliamentarianism" and other publicmeetings, meetings with townships and sessions with community groups that could determine that thecorrect answer would be "C." Answer "D" completely denies that some hearings or public consultations

are conducted.


I understand that what is to be evaluated is that there is a legislative practice of the Finance Commissionto evaluate the control of different executive units and invite members of civil society expert in the

to evaluate the control of different executive units and invite members of civil society expert in thesubjects that shall be reviewed in order to enrich the accountability process. While there is streetparliamentarianism, the press notes and formal and informal reports include meetings as means toexpose community problems, report on laws or draft bills, make consultations that later are notnecessarily binding. Ultimately, street parliamentarianism activities are not conducted to questionofficials of the executive regarding budget matters, achievement of goals or the analysis of themacroeconomic and fiscal framework. The answer is D, since the members of Parliament interviewedalso members of the Commission of Finance reported that the opinion of the public is not shared in thehearings.

129. Do the legislative committees that hold public hearings onthe budget release reports to the public on these hearings?

A. Yes, the committees release reports, which include all written and spoken testimony presented at thehearings.

B. Yes, the committees release reports, which include most testimony presented at the hearings.

C. Yes, the committees release reports, but they include only some testimony presented at the hearings.

D. No, the committees do not release reports, or do not hold public hearings.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: According to the congressmen, reports with some oral and written testimonies are published.The reports are not posted on the website in the links of the Commissions of Finance and EconomicDevelopment or in the Comptroller General of the Republic. However, the website of the NationalAssembly provides the Parliamentary management reports of some congresspersons, such as the oneof congresswoman Vestalia Sampredro at

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/uploads/documentos/doc_edc099098336d0c5e3203a1a652de11b5bda4c44.pdf, which includes the report of activities of the Permanent Commission of Finances andEconomic Development beginning on page 63. It also provides the management report of congressmanCarlos Ramos athttp://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/uploads/documentos/doc_7815e2480fe5f105306b254884cc82c31

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/uploads/documentos/doc_edc099098336d0c5e3203a1a652de11b5bda4c44.pdf

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/uploads/documentos/doc_7815e2480fe5f105306b254884cc82c31386d3b6.pdf

386d3b6.pdf which includes, beginning on page 44, overviews of the discussions of the PermanenteComptrollership Commission during 2013.

Comments: Public hearings are conducted, but there is no online access to reports of the Commission.The website of the National Assembly (http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/documento/show2/id/19)does not include report of the Permanent Finance and Economic Development Commission.

PEER REVIEWER


130. Does the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) maintain formalmechanisms through which the public can assist in formulatingits audit program (by identifying the agencies, programs, orprojects that should be audited)?

A. Yes, the SAI maintains formal mechanisms through which the public can assist in formulating its auditprogram, and these mechanisms are accessible and widely used by the public.

B. Yes, the SAI maintains formal mechanisms through which the public can assist in formulating its auditprogram; while these mechanisms are accessible, they are not widely used by the public.

C. Yes, the SAI maintains formal mechanisms through which the public can assist in formulating its auditprogram, but these mechanisms are not accessible.

D. No, the SAI does not have formal mechanisms through which the public can assist in formulating itsaudit program.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: While the Organic Law of the Comptroller General of the Republic and the National FiscalControl System devote articles 75 and 76 to citizens engagement, it is only reduced to community orsocial control (community councils) of specific projects, the presentation of complaints and theincorporation in fiscal control programs. The following website: http://www.cgr.gob.ve/site_content.php?Cod=069 shows how to formulate complaints and their follow-up.

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/uploads/documentos/doc_7815e2480fe5f105306b254884cc82c31386d3b6.pdf

http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/documento/show2/id/19


Comments: There is no formal mechanism to design the audit program.

PEER REVIEWER


Comments: I suggest researchers to enquire further on the work of the "Office of Citizens Service.Citizens engagement." The Comptroller General of the Republic created this "Office of Citizens Service"trying to generate some formal mechanisms through which the public can participate in the formulationand evaluation of audit programs. We know that often these mechanisms are merely formalmechanisms and are not accessible o efficient, but due to scientific accuracy we must research more onthis to determine whether the correct answer is "B" or "C."


We have contacted the Office of Citizens Service of the Comptroller General of the Republic in the city ofCaracas, just to request essential information, and the access to some requests was denied, while inothers, the person who was helping us did not know abut the possibility of citizens engagement. Toanswer this question, we were able to talk to high hierarchy people in the organization, who pointed outthat citizens engagement is useful only to make a complaint or be part of an already established controlprogram, but not for the formulation of the program. The answer remains as C.

131. Does the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) maintain formalmechanisms through which the public can participate in auditinvestigations (as respondents, witnesses, etc.)?

A. Yes, the SAI maintains formal mechanisms through which the public can participate in auditinvestigations, and these mechanisms are accessible and widely used by the public.

B. Yes, the SAI maintains formal mechanisms through which the public can participate in auditinvestigations; while these mechanisms are accessible, they are not widely used by the public.

C. Yes, the SAI maintains formal mechanisms through which the public can participate in auditinvestigations, but these mechanisms are not accessible.

D. No, the SAI does not have formal mechanisms through which the public can participate in auditinvestigations.


Venezuela, RB

C.

Score: 33

Sources: SAI can request the support of citizens and civil society organizations as well from witnesses ortaxpayers, but not on the initiative of the citizens. The Comptrollership seeks the support of witnessesex officio.

PEER REVIEWER


132. Does the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) maintain anycommunication with the public regarding its Audit Reportsbeyond simply making these reports publicly available?

A. Yes, in addition to publishing Audit Reports, the SAI maintains other mechanisms of communicationto make the public aware of audit findings (such as maintaining an office that regularly conductsoutreach activities to publicize previously released audit findings).

B. No, the SAI does not maintain any formal mechanisms of communication with the public beyondpublishing Audit Reports.


Venezuela, RB

B.

Score: 0

Sources: The Management Report 2013 page XVI mentions community training activities aimed atstressing ethical values, but it is not a communication related to the presented audit reports.

PEER REVIEWER


133. Does the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) provide formal,

133. Does the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) provide formal,detailed feedback to the public on how their inputs have beenused to determine its audit program or in Audit Reports?

A. Yes, the SAI issues reports on the inputs it received from the public and provides detailed feedbackon how these inputs have been used.

B. Yes, the SAI issues reports on the inputs it received from the public but provides only limitedfeedback on how these inputs have been used.

C. Yes, the SAI issues reports on the inputs it received from the public but provides no feedback on howthese inputs have been used.

D. No, the SAI does not issue reports on the inputs it received from the public through publicconsultations.


Venezuela, RB

D.

Score: 0

Sources: The SAI, Comptroller General of the Republic, does not conduct consultations to thepopulation regarding its audit program, therefore it cannot issue reports on the recommendationsreceived from the citizens.

PEER REVIEWER
