On Monday, the leadership of the Socialist Party (PS) canceled a scheduled meeting with the Minister General Secretariat of the Presidency, José García Runcot, at La Moneda Palace. Despite the cancellation, party lawmakers arrived at the Government Palace to deliver a letter addressed to President José Antonio Kast.
Senator Paulina Vodanovic, President of the PS, explained that the cancellation was due to a scheduling conflict with a meeting involving economists at the Senate. According to an announcement from the party's press channels, the meeting had been set for 12:00 p.m. this Monday.
Criticism of the 'Miscellaneous Reform' Management
The lawmaker criticized the Executive's lack of communication regarding the 'National Reconstruction' mega-project. Vodanovic noted that opposition deputies, who belong to the legislative chamber where the project originated, have not received any official information.
“As the leadership of the Socialist Party, we had requested a meeting with Minister García because our opposition deputies still have no information regarding the project; we had requested a meeting. Unfortunately, there was another activity pre-scheduled with economists in the Senate, along with other party commitments; therefore, we have informed the Minister that the party leadership cannot attend,” the Senator stated.
The Socialist leader also accused the Government of lacking the will to engage in dialogue. “There is a clear intent from the Government to move forward without listening,” Vodanovic told Radio Pauta, adding that “this is unprecedented, because governments are always expected to conduct pre-legislative work—to engage in dialogue, to inform, and to seek support, rather than wiping the slate clean and steamrolling everyone else.”
In its letter, the PS described the government proposal as a “disguised, regressive, and high-risk tax reform.” The document asserts that the party “unambiguously opposes a tax cut of this magnitude, as we consider it unjustified and irresponsible. The proposed measures will have negative long-term impacts.”
The Senator also issued a direct challenge to state authorities. “We are calling on them to do the work—to communicate what project is being introduced and the nature of that project, and to clarify whether they are truly concerned about reconstruction or if this is indeed a disguised tax reform, as has been reported across the press,” she said.
Finally, Vodanovic criticized the current administration's stance: “There is a biased government vision that seeks to impose its will on the rest of the country by a margin of just two votes, more or less. And we stand here, facing an indifferent, incompetent, and deaf government; we will speak with one voice.”
