Chileans “will not tolerate a new failure” in pension reform, warns Boric

Chilean President, gabriel boricwarned this Thursday that Chileans “they will not tolerate a new failure” in the pension reform and therefore urged the opposition to dialogue and advance “with speed, responsibility and commitment” in the processing of a law that solves what it considers a “national urgency”.

During the speech of his second public account, in which he took stock of his first 15 months in government, the president recalled that this reform, promoted by his Executive, has been paralyzed in Parliament for seven months and stressed that the Government “is available to talk to meet the objective”.

“We have the duty to improve the pensions of Chileans today, not tomorrow or in 10 more years”, said the president about a change in the pension scope that has been pending for nearly 15 years.

The current government insists on the creation of a mixed system, with a contribution increase of up to 16% by the employer and the possibility of the State managing the funds, although there are other private investment managers such as the current AFPs.

Health

In terms of health, the president referred to the crisis faced by private health insurers (isapres) due to a Supreme Court ruling that obliges them to pay their affiliates amounts associated with excessive charges since 2019 and to apply a single table of prices.

“Chili I could not understand a new pardon”, Boric snapped due to the criticism of the union of the isapres to the project promoted by the Executive that seeks to comply with the ruling of Justice, and then insist that his Government “is open to agreeing on solutions and alternatives” that allow the judgment to be fulfilled “Responsibly”.

The president also proposed to reduce waiting times by 40% at the end of his term and promised to increase resources in mental health -“the largest investment in the last 30 years”, he said- and to set up fifteen centers.

Education reform

Boric also referred to the pending commitments in education and promised that, once the tax reform is approved, he will forgive the debt for studying at the university, on the one hand, and on the other, he will pay the historical debt that the dictatorship contracted with public school teachers who at the time did not receive a salary readjustment contemplated in the law.

“Last year I made a commitment to introduce a bill (to end student debt) once tax reform is passed and my commitment still stands.“said the president.

The tax reform was rejected by a few votes in March in the Chamber of Deputies after a controversial vote and that must finance the main reforms of its program: health, pensions and education.

The president also addressed the students of the emblematic high schools of Santiago who in recent times have staged protests to improve their school conditions.

“I was a student leader and I understand the frustration that unfulfilled promises for years can generate, but the Molotovs, the white overalls and the intimidation of those who think differently is not and will never be the way forward”, he maintained before insisting on “to solve the problems” of the students “with concrete commitments and deadlines, but without violence”.

Source: EFE