The House of Representatives approved the reform project to the General Participation Systemwhich seeks to increase the resources that the Nation transfers to the departments, in its eighth and last debate. Now all that remains is conciliation.
Although conciliation is coming, both the text approved in the Senate and the House establishes that this figure will gradually increase, 23.8% to 39.5%. Furthermore, the entry into operation of the most important constitutional reform of the last decade is conditioned on the issuance of a powers law, which must make clear which functions of the central level pass to the regions.
(Besides: Political reform is approved in the third debate by Commission I of the Senate).
“We have a historical debt with departments and municipalities. In the Constitution of ’91 we were generous in terms of decentralization. We started from the principle that this centralist model was a true failure. It was always said that we should have greater autonomy in the regions in order to correct an inequality that exists in the territories.“, stated the liberal representative Carlos Ardila, rapporteur of the project.
Minister of the Interior Juan Fernando Cristo speaks with representatives David Racero and Carlos Ardila
The support of the governors
Several governors made an appearance at the plenary session of the House of Representatives, which continued until shortly after 11:00 p.m.
(Further: Another setback in financing law: filing of presentation in Congress is postponed).
“This will mark a before and after in our Nation. For decades, municipalities and departments have been relegated to the background because they do not have the resources. The centralization of resources and power has generated deep inequalities in the regions (…) It is necessary to emphasize that this project is not going to bankrupt Colombia. We must give step by step to the territorial entities and for this it is necessary to reduce the size of the central government“said Eduardo Verano de la Rosa, governor of Atlántico.
For its part, Carlos Amaya, governor of Boyacá and president of the National Federation of Departmentssaid: “Here those who say that what will be done with the money that is passed on to the regions should first ask themselves where the resources come from to pay for the PAE, which was a responsibility of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (…). I wish the percentage had been or was more, but this project will undoubtedly help us fulfill a promise“.
Katherine Miranda
It is worth mentioning that the archival presentation that was denied in this Monday’s session was proposed by the representative of the Green Alliance, Katherine Mirandawho assured that the new system would seriously affect fiscal stability and the country’s coffers.
(Further: Scandal that shakes the Minhacienda, a new stick in the wheel for the Government’s management).
“The budget for next year will be 523 billion pesos and do you know how inflexible it will be? By 91 percent. And they tell us the story that they are going to generate a competency law. Do you know which powers will end up being transferred to the territories? That they end up paying the foreign debt, pensions, defense and security, that is what they are going to transfer, because otherwise nine tax reforms would be needed“said the congresswoman.
PORTFOLIO
*With information from EL TIEMPO – POLITICS
