Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz distanced himself on Thursday from comments made by his counterpart at the Ministry of the Presidency (Segpres), José García Ruminot, regarding adjustments the Executive is preparing for the National Reconstruction Plan. As reported by La Tercera, the lack of a unified stance between the two cabinet members has sparked tensions within the ruling coalition and drawn criticism from the opposition.
The controversy began Wednesday when García Ruminot, speaking on La Tercera’s “Cómo te lo explico” podcast, admitted that a tight fiscal environment would necessitate modifications to the bill currently being debated in the Senate. The Segpres chief specifically mentioned a potential reduction in tax stability for companies—lowering it from 25 years to a shorter period—as well as adjustments to employment tax credits.
However, when asked about these proposals this morning, Minister Quiroz opted for caution and avoided committing to the formulas suggested by his colleague. “It could be that, or other things, or nothing at all,” the finance chief replied, reaffirming that the government is seeking dialogue with various sectors without publicly validating the specifics outlined by Segpres.
Tensions in the legislative process
Sources at the Presidential Palace denied to La Tercera that there is any formal lack of coordination or an intent to publicly correct the Segpres minister. Nevertheless, the outlet reported that a confidential government memo is circulating which justifies adjustments to tax stability and benefits like the employment credit, aligning with what García Ruminot had previously stated.
The Executive is aiming for a narrow approval, requiring the support of independent senators and key opposition figures such as Karim Bianchi and the PPD’s Pedro Araya. For this reason, government officials admit there was no desire to preemptively disclose specific details while negotiations remain at a critical juncture.
The situation has drawn fire from the opposition. National Renewal Senator María José Gatica questioned Jorge Quiroz’s handling of the legislative process. “Nothing is set in stone. Minister Quiroz has shown a lack of tact in these proceedings. Therefore, I hope he takes a secondary role and that Minister García Ruminot becomes the primary architect of this process,” the lawmaker told La Tercera. Gatica added that the finance chief “has failed to understand that behind the numbers are people, and in hospitals, there are people dying due to a lack of resources.”
Following the controversy, García Ruminot issued a new public statement focusing on the need to move forward with the bill, omitting the specific adjustments he had previously mentioned. The government maintains that its primary goal remains the approval of the reform, prioritizing the pursuit of individual agreements within Congress.
