American Expatriate Costa Rica

Legislators say no to more taxes

Although Carlos Alvarado announced the possibility of sending a new project that implies more taxes for the society, after this year, already several legislator already said no.

The president argued that since mid 2018, Minister of Finance Rocío Aguilar warned that the project – which became the Public Finance Strengthening Law – solved part of the problem, but it was not enough.

Franggi Nicolás, a legislator for the National Liberation Party (PLN) was one of those who voted against the tax plan, but recalled that during her speeches she warned that, in less than two years, the government was going to ask for more taxes.

Therefore, she believes that Alvarado should turn his gaze towards unemployment data, instead of touching the pocket of Costa Ricans again.

Paola Valladares, who was also against the fiscal plan, criticized the statement by the head of state. She believes he should focus on issues of economic reactivation and employment generation programs.

The Christian Social Unity Party (PUSC) gave eight votes to the tax reform, but they disagree with a project of more taxes. Rodolfo Peña even said that the government should not even waste time on that possibility because it will clash with legislators.

Like Valladares, he believes that the President should focus on the economic reactivation of the country as well as

a good administration of the internal and external debt, eliminating superfluous spending, fighting against evasion and those who take advantage of the surpluses of the autonomous institutions.”

The previous Monday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommended more taxes in order to reduce the fiscal deficit rapidly, in about 0.75% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

crhoy.com