The initiative to cut the political debt by 50% for the next elections failed in the Legislative Assembly. A parliamentary majority rejected the affirmative opinion for the national budget of ¢9.3 billion , which included the proposal to reduce the state contribution to political parties to finance their campaigns.
The initiative was promoted by legislator and presidential candidate of the Libertarian Movement, Otto Guevara.
Twenty-four legislators voted against and only 17 in favor of that opinion, which in the Finance Affairs Committee of the Legislative Assembly was endorsed by the Citizen Action Party (PAC), Frente Amplio and Movimiento Libertario .
However, it did not have the support of the National Liberation (PLN) and the Christian Social Unity (PUSC) parties. Guevara had proposed the cut so that half of the political debt (¢ 10,637 million) goes towards the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by Tropical Storm Nate last October.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) objected the cut after claiming that any modification to the political debt has to be made six months before the elections, which will be held on February 4th. Otherwise, it would be unconstitutional.
The Legislative Plenary must vote on the spending plan no later than November 30th by constitutional mandate.