With five votes in favor and four against, the legislators of the Special Commission of Fiscal Reform received the substitute text presented by the government of for the bill of strengthening of public finances, or fiscal reform.
Before reaching that point, the legislators studied 873 motions during two sessions. Now the bill will go through a fast-track process.
Those who supported the substitute text were Welmer Ramos from the Citizen Action Party (PAC), Pedro Muñoz from the Christian Social Unity Party (PUSC), and Yorleny León, Gustavo Viales, and Silvia Hernández from the National Liberation Party (PLN).
Those who were against the text were Eduardo Cruickshank and Carlos Avendaño from National Restoration, José María Villalta from Frente Amplio, and Walter Muñoz from PIN.
Ramos defended the approval and it was clear that nobody likes the idea of paying more taxes, however, he compared it with the injection that should be applied to a person when they are sick. Therefore the pro-government legislator assured that if the fiscal issue is not resolved, the implications for the citizens will be worse.
Both Villalta and the restorationists expressed their opposition to the substitute text because it taxes the basic basket with 2%, as well as medicines.