Gabriel Boric asks to “get out of the trenches” in 2024

The president of Chile, Gabriel Boricthis Sunday asked the political class to “get out of the trenches” and “reach important agreements for the benefit of the citizenship”, such as pension reform and a new fiscal pact, two of its star projects.

“If in politics we are able to get out of the trenches and we listen to each other, we dialogue, we put the country and its people above any consideration, I am sure that we can reach important agreements that will benefit you.”, indicated the president. in his end of the year message National chain.

Boric, who reviewed some of the achievements of his first two years in office, assured that “Chili It asks us all for generosity, greatness and high-mindedness” and that “people expect solutions from politics, not pettiness or fights.”

After 55.7% of Chileans rejected a second proposal to replace their Constitution and the closure of the constitutional debate, the Government – which does not have a majority in Parliament – reopened the debate on its two star reforms.

Both the traditional right united in the Chile Vamos coalition and the far-right Republican Party They have systematically opposed raising taxes and reforming the criticized pension system, which is individually funded and implemented during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).

However, in recent days sectors of Chili Come on, they have shown signs of reconsidering their position.

“Let us make an effort so that 2024 is remembered as the year in which we finally achieved a significant increase in pensions for the elderly. Let us agree on a fiscal pact that allows us to grow, generate more jobs and investment, and permanently and responsibly have the necessary resources to provide better health, care, and security,” he added.

After the Chamber of Deputies of Chile last March rejected an ambitious tax reform, dealing a hard blow to the president, the Government reduced its collection goal in six years to 2.7% (close to 8,000 million dollars) and began a round of talks with businessmen and parliamentarians to try to move forward with the fiscal pact incorporating more transversal aspects.

Last week, the Executive also presented changes to its pension proposal, with which it seeks to increase the contribution of the Current 10% to 16%, paid by employer.

The main point of friction with the opposition is the destination of that additional 6%.

Pensions have been in the ranking of the main concerns of Chileans for years and previous governments tried without success to reform the system, one of the main demands in the wave of protests in October 2019. (With information from EFE)