Carolina Cossevice presidential candidate for the Broad Front (FA)expressed serious concerns regarding President Luis Lacalle Pou’s proposal on the official response to the plebiscite promoted by the PIT-CNTa union proposal that seeks to reform the Uruguayan Constitution with regard to social security.
Cosse said that the president appears to be failing to adequately defend the reform that he himself promoted, a position that she believes should be paramount if the president were to firmly support his own proposal. During a press conference, the former mayor of Montevideo pointed out that within her party, the Frente Amplio, There is unanimity in classifying the presidential reform as inadequate.
Addressing the president’s actions, Cosse criticized that Lacalle Pou is “Walking along the ledge of the Constitution“by involving pre-candidates in an electoral campaign. He also stressed that he has not heard a convincing defence from Lacalle Pou on why 65 would be the ideal age to retire, a key aspect of the criticised reform.
Government strategies against the PIT-CNT plebiscite
President Lacalle Pou has begun outlining a communication strategy to counter the plebiscite promoted by the PIT-CNT, a measure that could have significant economic and legal consequences for Uruguay. Lacalle Pou will lead a press conference as part of this campaign, using his presidential influence to inform the public about the possible adverse impacts of the proposal.
In a meeting held at the Executive Tower, the president summoned key authorities, including the ministers of Labor and Social Security, Economy and Financeand the president of the Social Security Bank (BPS)to establish the information campaign. The strategy seeks to have these figures explain the harmful effects that the approval of the union reform could have.
Accompanying them will be Rodolfo Saldainthe main advisor on the pension reform, whose evidence and reports will support the official arguments against the plebiscite. Together, these officials are considered the most capable voices to communicate to the public the implications of the reform proposed by the union.
Efforts to increase public information
According to a recent survey by Equipos Consultores, the population is divided into three groups: one third supports the union proposal, another third rejects it and the last third remains undecided.
In addition, it was revealed that 61% of Uruguayans do not have enough information about the plebiscitereflecting considerable uncertainty about one of the two upcoming referendums.
The government fears that the lack of public awareness on the issue will incline the population towards a yes vote, especially influenced by two of its main proposals: equalizing minimum pensions to the minimum wage and setting the retirement age at 60 years.
