The Chamber of Deputies on Thursday installed an ordinary session of the Bicentennial Legislature 2024-2025 with the Project analysis considered priorityamong them the draft Law 547/2024, which seeks Grant temporary relief to social housing debtors and small borrowers.
The Ministry of Economy and Public Finance defended the proposal in a statement, noting that It is a “temporaryspecific and responsible “that” does not compromise the stability of the financial system. ” suspend for six months embargoes and judicial sentences against social housing borrowersand differs the payment of fees in that same period also for micro and small borrowers.
Objections of the financial sector
The Association of Private Banks of Bolivia (Asooban) and the Association of Financial Entities Specialized in Microfinance (ASOFIN) expressed their deep concern for the project. According to the guild, An automatic and mandatory deferral “would compromise the stability of the financial systemaffecting the essential function of channeling the deposits of millions of savers towards the productive activity and consumption of families. ”
“A disposition like this would force an inevitable restriction of creditespecially towards the most vulnerable sectors, at a time of critical economic situation, ”Asoban warned in a statement.
The associations recalled that, under current regulationsentities can already attend individually the cases of borrowers with difficulties through mechanisms for refinancing and reprogramming debts, which they consider more appropriate than a generalized measure.
Government’s arguments
The Ministry stressed that The impact of the deferral would not exceed 3% of the portfolio total. As a history, he recalled that in 2020 the deferral reached 10.4% and that, as of July 2025, it was reduced to 1.4%, which in his opinion reflects a “Solid culture of payment.”
In addition, he stressed that Financial entities closed 2024 with record profits of more than 389 million dollars, which would allow them to face the measure without risks for their solvency.
The Executive argues that The initiative responds to the effects of blockages, climatic phenomena and social conflictsand presents it as an action that protects the housing of thousands of families and the continuity of micro and small productive units, considered the engine of the economy.
The legislative debate just begins in the Chamber of Deputieswith a scenario of positions faced between those who see in the law a necessary relief for borrowers and those who alert their effects on the financial system.
