Deputies discuss Profits, between Massa’s campaign, the rejection of JxC and the tension over the ruling against CFK

It will be a tense day in Deputies. At the urging of the Frente de Todos and the help of allies, the Lower House will meet this Tuesday from 1 p.m. to discuss Sergio Massa’s project that virtually eliminates the payment of Income Tax for the majority of workers starting next year.

Hard clashes are expected between the ruling party and the opposition, which accuses the minister and candidate – who could be present at the venue – of leaving a bomb for the next Government and the ground ready for hyperinflation, due to an electoral measure.

Outside the National Congress, on the other hand, the main union centers, the CGT and the CTA, will mobilize to demand half-sanction of the law. The scenario, initially tense, adds that Cassation has just annulled the dismissal of Cristina Kirchner in two serious cases. Kirchnerism would launch harsh questions against the Judiciary and will once again denounce persecution

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This Monday, in a meeting of the Budget and Finance Commission – chaired by the ruling party Carlos Heller – a majority of 24 deputies from the FdT and one from the Frente de la Concordia Misionero gave a majority opinion to the initiative that eliminates the fourth category of the income tax, which only high incomes greater than 15 minimum monthly salaries will pay, which today amounts to more than $1,700,000.

The treatment was truly express. Massa – who does not urgently need the law because he already exempted by decree the majority of those who paid profits – presented the project last Wednesday in Deputies; The next day he began his treatment at the commission, this Monday he obtained an opinion and tomorrow he will be treated in the facility.

Carlos Heller, president of the Budget, Treasury and Finance commission to debate the agreement with the IMF. (NA Photo: JUAN VARGAS)

The ruling party – they assured there and recognized in the opposition – would have assured the necessary number to reach the quorum of 129 deputies sitting on their benches. The FdT, without absences, has 118. They will be accompanied by at least the four members of the Left Front, the four from the United Provinces (Rionegrins and missionaries) and at least 3 from the Federal Interblock, which make up Buenos Aires Peronism, along with people from Córdoba. of Juan Schiaretti – who had publicly rejected the project – and Santa Fe socialists, who maintained reservations.

The one who did not say what he will do is Javier Milei, who commands a block of three libertarian deputies. JxC was left in an awkward position. The opposition coalition has already agreed internally among the different blocks that make up it not to accompany the quorum and yesterday its legislators in the Budget commission issued a rejection opinion on the Profit project, whose elimination had been one of the flags of Cambiemos in 2015.

In the commission, the opposition deputies highlighted that the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the fiscal cost will be 0.83% of GDP, about $400,000 million, and the impact on the provinces, as it is a co-participating tax, will be 0.48%.

That is, the opposition coalition accuses the Government of not measuring the fiscal impact of the measure, nor of accompanying it with a reduction in spending, but of seeking to cover it – like the rest of the measures of what they called the “Reloaded Platita Plan”, with higher emission. “We are not going to accompany Massa’s path to hyperinflation. We are not going to be complicit in this harm to Argentines,” JxC said, a warning that its deputies will make again in this Wednesday’s session.

Deputies from Together for Change will promote in ordinary sessions the repeal of the Rental Law, Single Ballot and Clean File (Photo: NA – Juan Vargas).

Sergio Massa, who before joining the national Cabinet was the president of the Chamber of Deputies, could be present in the room during the treatment. The candidate minister told TN that he was not guaranteed because this Tuesday he also had activity planned in Moreno and Ituzaingó.

The elimination of the payment of Profits for the majority of workers generated resentments in some provinces due to the impact it could have on co-participation. The deputies of the United Provinces, led by Luis Di Giacomo from Rio Negro, and the Buenos Aires residents of the Federal Interblock, led by Alejandro “Topo” Rodríguez, are talking to discuss the 2024 Budget, which will not be discussed until after the elections, compensation for provincial administrations.

“Whatever they agree with Massa is a piece of cake and they know it. He did not call the elected governors. They are making an agreement with a government that is leaving, that is not reducing spending, with the possibility of a Milei taking over who says that he does not believe in co-participation. By March, if they make profits and do not compensate, there will be provinces with problems paying salaries. And if we arrive, they are going to do what they always do: claim from their provincial governments to the Supreme Court for something that they themselves are now going to vote on in the Deputies,” said, in an annoyed tone, a JxC deputy who participated in the commission meeting. .

Judicial setback for Cristina Kirchner: the Hotesur-Los Sauces and Memorandum with Iran cases will be reopened. Photo: AFP

“That JxC talks about political opportunism is embarrassing. Between the PASO and the general elections of 2019, Macri raised the non-taxable minimum of Earnings, reduced self-employed workers, bonuses for monotributistas, removed VAT from the basic basket, increased scholarships by 40%, and gave a bonus to public employees. The law, which they themselves asked for, must be voted on,” responded one of the deputies who is not a member of either of the two large coalitions.

The head of the Lower House, Cecilia Moreau, Massa’s parliamentary bishop, asked the opposition to “get out of electoral speculation” and think “about the well-being, happiness and recomposition of the lives of Argentines,” and then highlight that the crisis situation “is occurring because Macri generated the largest debt that Argentina had with the IMF.”

That seems to be the tone that this Tuesday’s tense debate will have, which will inevitably be marked by the campaign. But the session will not have Profits as the only topic. The agenda includes the creation of the universities of Ezeiza, Pilar, Delta, and Río Tercero, and establishing the “MiPyme Employment” Program, which provides for the forgiveness of 100% of employer contributions for 24 months for small and medium-sized companies that incorporate new workers, among other projects.