One of the most important chapters in the history of Ricardo Bonilla in the Ministry of Finance and the political storm that surrounds this official, finally ended with the resignation request that President Petro made to one of his most faithful squires and the respective presentation of the irrevocable letter of resignation by him.
Although he has the support and affection of the House of Nariño, Bonilla González, who lasted 19 months in office, leaves the Minhacienda amid accusations against him for the alleged purchase of votes in Congress to support the Government’s projects. and what some political sectors have described as the ‘friendly fire’ crisis that exists within this administration.
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The last weeks of this official were perhaps not the best, given that his relations with the Legislature were at their worst and the congressmen did not respond to the calls, neither for the financing bill, nor in the Public Credit Commission, an organization with which he never managed to agree to use the debt quota.
Although at the time he was the first person President Gustavo Petro thought of to lead the Treasury portfolio, given that he is one of his closest friends and loyal colleagues, who even accompanied him as Secretary of the Treasury when he was mayor of Bogotá , could not be appointed due to current disabilities.
Ricardo Bonilla, Minister of Finance
Private file
Ricardo Bonilla’s chapter in the Ministry began after the departure of José Antonio Ocampo, who had several differences with the head of state for highlighting the fiscal impacts that social reforms would have, especially health reforms. In his management he was characterized for defending the President’s line, which for Petro Urrego ended up costing him his departure.
Economic storms
In the little more than a year and a half that he was Minister of Finance, Bonilla González was questioned for cases such as the messes of the General Budget of the Nation for 2024, which almost embezzled $13 billion pesos for high-impact works such as the Bogotá metro or several 4G routes, as well as overestimated economic projections, which ended with budget cuts.
The fact that operating expenses had to be lowered, first at $28 billion and finally at $33 billion, it did not work in his favor either and although in the end he managed to recompose the path of growth in tax collection together with Dian, in the era of Orlando Villabona, he left this indicator in red.
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On the other hand, Ricardo Bonilla also highlighted the lack of a concrete economic reactivation plan and a very slow growth rate and, according to some economic study centers, below the potential that the economy really had, which would have grown due to inertia and pace, rather than by government actions.
In the final stretch of his time at the Ministry, he was leading the processing of the financing law, which was not received favorably by the various economic and political sectors, and the processing of the General Budget of the Nation for 2025, which was will go by decree, because that an agreement was not reached between the Legislative and the Executive, regarding the necessary resources.
Colombian pesos
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It should be noted that one of the most frequent calls that the economic sector made to this character, who will now dedicate himself to meeting the requirements that come to him from justice, was to spend less and reduce public spending fronts such as payroll or taxes. expenses on logistics and government operations.
Bonilla also leaves at a time when the market has high uncertainty regarding fiscal stability, since the drop in collections led the Nation to go into debt and, for example, in next year’s Budget there is no certainty about $12 billion that do not have a firm source of income, without counting on that Dian’s management would once again be overestimated.
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Finally, it must be said that he was currently working on a budget underexecution plan to alleviate the cash squeeze that the Nation has and reach the cut goal, above $50 billion, suggested by experts, in order to take care of the rule. fiscal, a task that will now be in the hands of the next Minister of Finance.
Despite all this, Ricardo Bonilla goes on to say that “the country’s finances are in good health and fiscal stability is maintained despite the internal and external circumstances that we had to face,” while who wants President Petro to fulfill his dream of consolidating the “beginning of a new Colombia.”
