Yesterday, Representatives Guerrera and Tignanelli spoke with Massa/S
Negotiations between the ruling party and the opposition to approve the financing law, which allows the governorate to borrow $3,685 million, ended suddenly yesterday morning. Around noon, the regular session called to discuss the debts fell.
Peronism was only able to collect the votes of the deputies of the Union for the Fatherland and Nuevos Aires. In total, 39 deputies attended, 7 of the quorum required to start the session, which is 46 deputies.
The opposition represented by the PRO party, the UCR blocs, the Civic Coalition and La Libertad Avanza united this time to block the way to the government’s debt project.
Once again, disagreements in the financing of the fund allocated to municipalities and in the distribution of positions to the opposition on the Board of Directors of Banco Provincia marked the end of the talks that began yesterday.
From the government headquarters on Sixth Street, they confirmed to El Día that they would call extraordinary sessions next Wednesday, December 3. On that day, the representatives will meet first and then the senators. Newly elected lawmakers in both chambers will be sworn in a day early.
Buenos Aires executives fear that the arrival of new liberal representatives and senators – as of December 10 – in closed opposition to Peronism, will halt the initiative permanently.
Differences
The financing bill, which was favorably approved by the House Budget and Taxation Committee, authorizes the provincial executive to assume a total debt of $3,685, distributed as follows: $1,045 million for debt amortization; US$1,990 allocated for public sector expenditures; US$250 million so that the regional public treasury can issue treasury bills in pesos or other currencies; US$150 million to the state-owned Buenos Aires Energy Company; and US$150 million to Autopistas de Buenos Aires (AUBASA).
Article Three of the Finance Law, which was approved by the House of Representatives on the budget and taxes, stipulated the establishment of a fund for municipalities at a rate of 8%, equivalent to the size of the debt proposed in Articles One and Two of the initiative: $3.035 million. In pesos, approximately 360 billion.
The executive proposed to mayors and opposition lawmakers a fixed amount to be paid in three times and the rest when money from the debts arrived. But there are differences in the fixed amount that will be divided into three payments.
Another issue in dispute was the appointment of opponents to the board of directors of Banco Provincia (BAPRO), which will be expanded from 8 to 12. The UCR and PRO have asked the government to send specifications before voting on the debt. And there the case remained unresolved.
On the other hand, both the PRO and the Liberals, who in the last elections were together in the provincial elections, do not want to “get stuck” on the increase in spending that will be generated by the creation of 4 new seats on the BAPRO Board of Directors, with high salaries and advisors, which is contrary to their national policy.
What does the ruling party think?
The head of the UxP deputies bloc, Facundo Tignanelli, was the voice of the ruling party who gave his opinion yesterday in the negotiations held to approve the financing law.
Deputy Camporista said: “Every attempt has been made from this chamber. The ministers who were working on the laws, and the entire governor’s team, urged dialogue and communicated with both opposition leaders and bloc leaders, and it seems that there is a will not to implement this law, which is fundamental for the governorate.”
He added: “Once again, from our bloc, we will appeal to the opposition to come to its senses and we can sit down and talk as much as is necessary so that we can reach the law we need.”
Meanwhile, those close to Kiselov expressed concern about progress in negotiations on the financing law in the legislature. They know that Wednesday will be the last chance to approve it. But they are not that optimistic.