The Chamber of Deputies' Finance Committee began on Tuesday the detailed discussion of President José Antonio Kast's reconstruction and economic reactivation megareform, amid tensions over more than 1,295 amendments filed by the opposition.
The committee chair, Agustín Romero (Republican Party), announced that the bill will be voted on Wednesday, May 13, even if the session must extend until midnight. The government submitted substitute amendments to neutralize much of the opposition proposals, a strategy backed by Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado.
Opposition lawmakers criticized the procedure. Raúl Leiva (PS) called it “constitutional fraud,” while Constanza Schönhaut (Frente Amplio) filed a constitutional reservation. Carlos Bianchi (independent) accused a “dictatorial maneuver” by prioritizing the Executive’s amendments.
Among the government’s changes is an amendment allowing the General Treasury of the Republic to offer payment facilities to CAE debtors with executed state guarantees. The plans include up to 48 installments and partial debt forgiveness of up to 100% of the remaining balance for those who pay on time.
The Executive aims for the Chamber to dispatch the bill before May 21, although passage to the Senate may be delayed until June.
