The plenary session of the National Assembly is convened for this Tuesday, at 08:00, to process the bill to attract investment for the second and final debate, amid uncertainty regarding political support for this Executive initiative.
The ruling party, through the National Agreement Bank (BAN), as well as the block of the Social Christian Party (PSC), announced their support for the bill, although the Social Christians warn that some observations must still be accepted.
The report on the urgent investment law is ready, but the votes are still under negotiation
Meanwhile, the factions of the Union for Hope (UNES), the Pachakutik movement and the Democratic Left are not convinced of approving this bill and insist on introducing changes, fundamentally, with regard to the delegation of strategic sectors or public services to the private sector. They fear that this law will push privatization.
The legislator of the UNES caucus, Paola Cabezas, warned that articles persist in the project that generate concern in the caucus because it opposes what the Constitution determineswhat would have to be deepened, for example, is the sustainability of investments, since there are no legal guarantees on labor rights and the nature that investors must grant.
He said that the tendency, at the moment, in the bench is to vote against the project, but it will depend on a final meeting of the bloc, which personally considers that this law enables the government of the day to sell “gold and Moorish” with the issue of foreign investment; So, you have to be very careful, because you would have to have a guarantee so that the strategic companies are not going to be delivered at the “price of a plague-stricken chicken”.
“The law as it is designed is more for business, but it is not a law that encourages investment, it is a law that gives a letter of marque to anyone who comes to the country and invests, but there are no guarantees that the country will have advantages about these investments”, stressed Cabezas.
Nathalie Arias (BAN) showed openness so that adjustments can be made in the second debate and not deny Ecuadorians the possibility of perfecting a public-private partnership scheme and free zones.
Regarding the votes, this legislator said that they will do the corresponding work of discussion with the benches and if necessary one by one to obtain the votes that are required to deliver to the country an investment law for employment.
He commented that the discussion of this project has focused on the locks that are needed to prevent the proposed scheme of public-private partnerships from privatizing. Another of the complications that the project has, highlighted the representative of Guayas, is to transfer the insurance sector to the Superintendence of Banks, to avoid a new Isspol case.
He said that they are optimistic to reach 70 votes, but that he recognizes that the political situation in the Assembly and its composition are complex.
Assemblyman Pedro Zapata of the PSC announced that the bench will support the investment attraction law with slight changes that should be reflected in the project.
He stated that the Social Christian Party, through its delegate in the Economic Development Commission, proposed some changes to the proposal, but in general, on principles, the PSC will be in favor of the urgent project.
Rafael Lucero, coordinator of the Pachakutik bench, acknowledged that the block of 25 assembly members is divided over the investment law, that at the moment no more than ten legislators would support the project and that the rest do not show flexibility to the Executive’s proposal. But that this Monday, at 4:00 p.m., they will have a meeting to define a position.
He explained that book 1 of the project that refers to the investment and promotion of delegated management and public-private associations is the problem, because some legislators that make up the caucus ask that it be eliminated. And another group maintains that talking about public-private partnerships does not necessarily have to be through a new law, because there is a current regulation that could be adjusted.
The bloc of the Democratic Left was scheduled to meet this Sunday to discuss and take a position on the project; however, his bench chief, Marlon Cadena, pointed out that there is concern that many of the observations made have not been accepted.
He commented that there are legislators who are concerned about the delegations and public-private partnerships, as well as the new powers of the Superintendence of Banks for the control of insurance.
They consider that the law, on the issue of delegations, is directed towards large capitals. Although they understand the need for investments, they point out that it could be managed at another level, giving support to small and medium-sized industries. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
