After the deceased attempt of a new indebtedness of US$ 100 million to subsidize the purchase of fuel to users, the Government decided to use the Selective Tax on Fuel Consumption (ISC), generated in the private sector, to pay for reductions in the price of fuels from the state oil company Petropar.
It is common diesel at G. 1,000 per liter and type 3 gasoline at G. 800 per liter. With this, there were no roadblocks by truckers during the weekend.
VEGA
Luis Fleitas Vega, an energy expert, questioned that Paraguay tripled its foreign debt in five years. He started with Cartes who took over the country with $2.6 billion and now the sum reaches $12 billion in eight years.
“Soon we will have to make external loans to pay the salaries of state employees. The nation’s spending budget is US$14 billion, of which 90% is spent on salaries,” he explained.
The analyst points out that when the concentration of wealth is focused on the payment of salaries, the management of the country becomes unfeasible.
“The fuel subsidy is like undressing one saint to dress another. If you no longer have money to pay State salaries, for how long is US$100 million going to subsidize your fuel? ”, She questioned.
The new debt attempt was described by Fleitas Vega as an “expensive, inefficient patch that can lend itself to corruption.” He compared it to Itaipu’s social spending. These are distributed where the president of the day wants.
“If we had an emergency fund in Paraguay like other countries have against disasters such as tsunamis, volcanoes and more, if we could use it now. But here this fund will only be a new source for the party in power to put its hand in, ”he asserted.
ALTERNATIVES
The analyst points out that Itaipu’s socio-environmental funds should be used to pay for the subsidies. This in order to avoid a new indebtedness and also to prevent sectionalists from diverting part of the resources in disguised works.
“We are talking about the famous cobblestones, distribution of animals and other political assistance. If we use social spending to strengthen the country’s electrical system, no one is going to protest. But if you use to make small works in each red administration, being exclusive and unfair; no,” he pointed out.
VILLALBA
Mario Villalba, political analyst, questioned that Paraguay is importing fuel, when we are not exploiting other sources such as electricity. He cited as examples the provision of infrastructure for mobility by bicycle or electric public transport.
“The lack of short- and long-term solutions creates tension. There are other alternatives. The key is not to benefit only a group of fuel importers, some businessmen to solve the crisis and raise it to the entire population. There is no official vision to look for alternatives”, he affirmed.
