The FMLN, SAND, PDC and PCN are already talking that they would be to overcome with 56 votes the rejections of President Bukele to the financing to increase the pension from $ 207 to $ 304 monthly.
President Nayib Bukele vetoed the Legislative Assembly Four decrees, including the $ 125 million financing from a $ 250 million loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to increase minimum pension, as reported by the President of the Assembly, Mario Ponce, of the PCN, during the plenary.
Bukele bases his veto on the fact that the credit with the IDB was originally authorized to “support the efforts and actions of the Government of the Republic, in order to contain the health crisis arising from VOCID-19 and the economic recovery of country, ”all of which the government has already used more than $ 1 billion of the $ 2 billion the Assembly authorized it to fight the pandemic.
MPF Anabel Belloso, from the FMLN, explained that the increase in the minimum pension should be implemented from 14 January, but due to the veto this will not be possible, which which he described as “irresponsible” on the part of the government, as an “imbalance” is being made in the 2021 budget.
“I would venture to say that there are no solid arguments to substantiate the unconstitutionality,” so they will analyze the rationale given by the Executive to overcome the veto, Belloso stressed, po affects 120,000 pensioners who should receive the benefit , deepened.
SEE ALSO: Assembly approves 2021 budget with minimum pension increase to $ 304 monthly
Another decree that was vetoed by Bukele is a fund reorientation approved by lawmakers of another credit with the IDB for $ 50 million so that mayors can develop municipal projects.
In principle this debt was intended by the government to “partially reimburse the funds of the General State Budget, used for the granting of the compensation of $ 300 given to people without employment ties, or permanent income, financially affected to save quarantine at home for this pandemic, “says part of the presidential veto.
According to Bukele, the 800 decree to grant funds to mayors for municipal works is “unconstitutional” for having “defects of content and form.”
Bukele’s veto states that the budget cannot be altered by omissions in its preparation and approval of the needs it must address.
“Altering the budget individually and without consulting the Executive is detrimental to guaranteeing the fundamental rights that have already been analyzed by the Executive which are priorities, which are the raison d’être of the State itself , for interests or acts that try to cover themselves with clothing of public interest, however, have an individualistic benefit to a political sector and specific people, for partisan purposes to the members of this sector “, argues the president.
SEE ALSO: President Bukele will veto decree raising minimum pension to $ 304, says finance minister
The president also vetoed a transitional provision that allows the upgrading of up to 50% of the resources allocated to municipalities through decrees 650 and 728; and decree 795 which contains reforms to the Electoral Code.
This Wednesday Bukele was beaten the eight working days the law gives him to remit the decrees he announced would veto.
The Minister of Finance, Alejandro Zelaya, announced a few days ago that decrees 800 and 803, which form part of the financing of the general state budget for the year, would be vetoed by the president.
Cristina Cornejo, of the FMLN, explained that the four vetoes ordered by Bukele are “unconstitutional”, meaning that they will have to go to the Constitutional Court controversy.
For the increase of the minimum pension the Assembly approved to reorient resources of a credit with the IDB by $ 125 million.
Deputies questioned that Bukele always tends to veto until the last moment; however, they hinted that they will be overtaken by a qualified majority of deputies.
“It is usual that I send them at the last minute, on the subject of the basic pension we will accompany to be able to overcome the vetoes and overcome it, we know that the pension is vital, especially for the poorest and most unprotected people, we would be accompanying a overcoming the veto, we do not know why he commands it until the last moment “, explained Reynaldo Cardoza, of the PCN.
READ ALSO: Minister of Finance evades going to the Assembly to give opinion by controversy in decree to pay Fucks to the mayors
Schafik Handal of the FMLN said that if Bukele did not veto yesterday, he would take it for granted. “The law states that administrative silence is a sign of approval,” he explained.
Earlier, Víctor Hugo Suazo, of the FMLN, stated that Bukele’s delay in sending the vetoed decree to finance the minimum pension is that he cannot find where to get the money to pay it.
Bukele refuses to withdraw funds from the loan that was originally approved by the Assembly to address the pandemic, even though it has already used more than half of the $ 2 billion that went into debt for COVID-19.
“We are ready to overcome the veto for the increase of the minimum pension of pensioners which is an issue that the Assembly had guaranteed and provided for in terms of cuts and advertising, what more can I say, is a decree that benefited all pensioners, “Cornejo said.
Patricia Valdivieso, from ARENA, said that, if necessary, “we would definitely be willing to overcome the vetoes”.
Rodolfo Parker, of the PDC, has stated that they will overcome everything that has to do with completing the law-making process.
“How are we not going to overcome the veto for pensioners instead of having a minimum pension of $ 207 to transition to a pension of $ 304,” Parker said.