There are those who argue that in order to reduce poverty, the contribution of 1% of the richest in Uruguay*would be needed, among those rich would be Julio César Lestido, importing businessman of Volkswagen vehicles and president of the Chamber of Commerce of Uruguay, with whom the echo dialogue.
As soon as the echo was contacted with the businessman, he began to mention memories of his youth, from when his father had the VW car assembly factory in Nueva Palmira, and he and his brothers to the “twenty-twenty” spent some time in this city, going out to “fish with (Wilfredo) Morales, although he did not like the fishing embarked”- he said- and continued to appoint many workers of the time ( Plant closed in 1993 and still the building remains).
After several minutes of talking about his youth, the conversation focused on the reason for the interview, knowing what his position is regarding 1% to the richest of Uruguay among which he is included.
Lestida began clarifying that he is not certain of being among the richest people in the country. Regarding the 1%tax, he expressed his rejection of the term “tax”, to which he defines as an “imposition.” He points out that Uruguay is already saturated with taxes and considers that adding more is not the right path, because it could cause capital withdrawal to other countries.
“The PIT-CNT proposal to tax the richest is more than anything an expression of desire,” said the businessman. He argues that the initiative does not have a clear plan for its implementation and that, if applied, the funds would be diluted in the general income without reaching its original destination.
What is the solution
For alastido, the true solution to poverty is economic growth through investment. It coincides with the Minister of Economy in which a country is needed that offers better conditions for all.
“What we have to do is hit the door to Uruguayan investors and foreigners, and say: ‘Gentlemen, do not leave, come, that we will offer them conditions for investment,” he said. In his vision, Uruguay must be promoted as a serious country, which fulfills its commitments and contracts.
When asked about the alarming infant poverty rate (one in three children under six in Uruguay is poor, according to the INE), he expressed his willingness to collaborate, but under a different approach.
*The 1% approach arose from the PIT-CNT and is supported by some sectors of the Broad Front. While the Minister of Economy and Finance, Gabriel Oddone, is against that initiative and therefore will not appear in the Budget Law that will present to the Parliament with a total date on August 31.
