9:40 The premier begins with the support of the budget project for 2025
Gustavo Adrianzén appears at the Budget Commission with ten ministers.
Congressmen oppose the purchase of 24 fighter planes valued at US$3.5 billion
In our today’s edition we report a new installment on the purchase of the 24 fighter aircraft valued at US$3.5 billion.
On this occasion, we asked a group of congressmen for their opinion.
The Minister of Defense, Wálter Astudillo, will appear today at the Budget Commission in which he will be asked about this announced acquisition.
After, last Wednesday, the head of Defense indicated that the Government will not back down on spending US$3.5 billion on the purchase of 24 war planes, from Congress a group of legislators yesterday questioned the decision made by the Executive.
The congresswoman from Renovación Popular, Milagros Jáuregui, told Perú21 that due to the reality that the country is going through, in which the wave of crime hits citizens every day with murders, extortions and robberies, that millionaire item that she wants to disburse The Executive can be used—according to her—to fight against citizen insecurity.
We need to stop the wave of murders in the streets, and that should be the priority of the Executive, and not be thinking about airplanes and making such large investments that today would not solve the pain of the mothers, wives and children who are left helpless ( due to crime). I believe that the violence that is being experienced in the streets requires that the Government be able to look at us as a priority. The president has to govern and see where the pain and desperation of the people is,” said Jáuregui.
In communication with Perú21, Fuerza Popular congressman, Héctor Ventura, indicated that this million-dollar item can go to strengthen the National Police to confront crime.
“Those $3.5 billion should be spent equipping our National Police. This one doesn’t have the tools. This money can go to give him more weapons, such as patrol cars and all the necessary clothing. “Are the planes going to be in San Juan de Lurigancho or Zarumilla, Tumbes, or Callao (in the fight against crime)?” he questioned.
Fortune.
Congressmen Elvis Vergara, from Acción Popular, and Américo Gonza, from Perú Libre, for their part, also criticized this purchase.
“There is money, what there is not is a good distribution of resources,” said Vergara. For Gonza, “it is not necessary” now to be thinking about the purchase of the 24 airplanes when one could acquire, for example, patrol cars, and build new police stations.
DEFENDERS COME OUT
On the opposite bank are congressmen María Acuña and Roberto Chiabra, from APP; José Williams, from Avanza País; and José Cueto, from Honor and Democracy, who considered, from their perspective, the purchase of this fleet of 24 fighter planes to be necessary.
This is because for almost 30 years our country has not renewed the acquisition of fighter aircraft (Mirage 2000, MIG29 and SU-25), and our Armed Forces need to be strengthened and are unprotected to defend our country in the event of a conflict breaking out.
“Everything has its budget. The Armed Forces have their Defense and Citizen Security Fund that is based on royalties from Camisea Gas. That’s where it’s going to come out. Nobody’s budget is going to be taken away. Now, the example of Ukraine with Russia. Who would have thought that in 2022 a war would start between these countries? Does anyone have a glass ball? A few years ago, when the Colombians killed Raúl Reyes (FARC) in Ecuadorian territory, an armed conflict almost occurred between Venezuela and Ecuador against Colombia. And Peru?”
Chiabra pointed out.
RAFALE PLANES?
On the other hand, according to Infodefensa.com, a Peruvian delegation from the Ministry of Defense was between September 19 and 20 at a bilateral security event in Paris, France, which is precisely the country that manufactures the Rafale model, and is one of the three that our country could choose to acquire the 24 fighter planes.
According to the AP agency, the other two options that Peru has for this acquisition are the Swedish Gripen model aircraft and the American F-16.
-“I think (the purchase of airplanes) is terrible.” We need to invest in patrol cars and equip the Police, and stop the wave of murders,” the congresswoman from Renovación Popular, Milagros Jáuregui, told Perú21.
-The Minister of Defense, Walter Astudillo, will attend the Budget Commission today at 9:00 am, where they will ask him for information on the purchase of 24 fighter aircraft valued at US$3.5 billion.
-The Mirage 2000 aircraft owned by the FAP were acquired in the 1980s.
-The MIG 29 and SU25 aircraft were purchased in the 90s.
