the leader of the left Gustavo Petro He became the new president of Colombia after beating engineer Rodolfo Hernández in the second round. His mandate will begin on August 7.
(Read: ‘It is not a change to take revenge, nor build more hatred,’ Petro).
The leader of the Historical Pact has been the subject of controversy for some of his economic approaches. This is what he proposes for his new government.
Regarding this issue, Petro has proposed a model of social investment that includes improvements in infrastructure, poverty reduction and inequality of resources that come from oil and coal.
However, the leftist leader stated in his political project that he seeks to consolidate a fiber optic expansion plan that allows him to bring free internet to rural areas of the country to promote community networks.
The candidate will also promote training in areas of technology and digital laboratories in regions of the country for the generation of knowledge.
This is one of the broadest spectrums in the Petro Government plan. In this sense, it proposes a policy of tariffs on agricultural goods and inputs to stimulate production. Likewise, it stipulates that there will be a renegotiation of free trade agreements so that the country improves at the international level in terms of value chains and agroecological production that knew the “myth of the green revolution.”
Petro has also established will seek the development of the national industry of fertilizers and inputs. Along with this, encourage plans for agri-food belts in the cities, moving towards efficient peasant agriculture and with environmental criteria. In addition to the boost in the value of cannabis and the prioritization of fishermen.
Lastly, the leftist leader wants to create a national agricultural innovation system that gives priority to traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge.
Hand in hand with his vice-presidential formula, Francia Márquez, Petro highlighted in his government plan the creation of a National Care System to be able to redistribute feminized work.
Likewise, among its most important proposals is the creation of the Ministry of Equality, which aims to eliminate economic, political and social inequalities between men and women.
Along with this, Petro proposed that women could have priority access to land ownership, public and free higher education and credit.
The reform of the Colombian pension system has been one of the most critical flags during Petro’s candidacy. The former senator has established that he seeks the construction of a pillar system that implies the unification of both systems under a pillar regime that will extract the best of both.
(Also: How Gustavo Petro plans to transform Colombia).
This means that it would not eliminate either of the two regimes currently operating in the country.
For Colpensiones, the contribution base will be up to a maximum of 4 minimum wages, which goes directly to pay future pensions. Whoever exceeds this contribution will be able to continue choosing a private quoted fund. Along with this, the regimes would no longer have a deficit and the 18 billion paid by the State would be invested in mothers who are heads of households.
In this field, the central axis of its proposal has been its ‘Guaranteed Employment’ plan, in which the State serves as the employer of last resort. That is, it offers work to those who cannot find employment in the private sector.
Along with this, they will contract works with a local impact, promote female inclusion and promote youth employment, including internships and social service as professional experience.
The new occupant of the Casa de Nariño has established a tax on unproductive assets and that dividends are taxed at the same percentage as salaries. In this way, the money would be raised to finance a plan to promote employment guaranteed by the State and reduce the fiscal deficit.
Petro proposes a gradual stop to the extractivist model. Proposal that has generated criticism from different sectors. In this sense, he has assured that he will prohibit the exploration and exploitation of unconventional deposits. It will also stop fracking projects and the development of offshore deposits.
(Keep reading: What is the viability of the Petro proposals, according to experts).
Additionally, the former mayor of Bogotá proposes creating a fund for the energy transition with resources not only from royalties, but also those from the elimination of some tax benefits for the hydrocarbon sector.
In his government plan, the new president has established that one of his objectives is that education reaches all of Colombia with better quality, free and universal. Petro seeks that access to this does not depend on the ability to pay or the conditions imposed by the market, with decentralized, participatory educational management for quality, access and permanence.
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