The new president of the Congress Economy Commission is Victor Floreswho is a pharmaceutical chemist by profession. With him in the lead, FP will lead the working group for the third time in this Parliament. Before they did Rosangella Barbarán (2022-2023) y César Revilla (2023-2024).
Flores will not only have responsibility to prioritize the debate of up to 27 projects referring to the pension system, including a possible eighth withdrawal from AFPs. Possible new tax benefits are also part of the agenda. All this, as specialists emphasize, with a “Electoral pressure” important.
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They lead the “oranges” exonerations
Of the 25 projects on tax exemptions that the Economy Commission must analyze [lista completo al final del artículo]11 have been proposed by members of the three banks that make up the new board of directors of this working group.
This includes a Ana Zegarrahis vice president; and Elvis Vergarathe secretary. Parliamentarians are We are Peru (sp) y Popular Action (AP)respectively. The striking thing is that the party that has more projects is from President Flores (5).
It is worth noting that everyone has at least an approved opinion. In more than one case, in addition, they were approved in the plenary, but after being observed by the Executive, they began their process again in the Economy Commission and are in “Agenda”, that is, ready to be discussed again in the maximum instance of the Congress.
What does it highlight between these initiatives? For example, from FP They seek to exonerate the General Sales Tax (IGV) to the consumption of guinea pig and that companies that invest in Protected Natural Areas They can deduce taxes.
This is the composition of the new Economy, Banking and Financial Intelligence Commission of Congress. Photo: Congress.
In AP they have proposed to extend the tax benefits in force in the Amazon to the province of Catervo in Cajamarca. They also insist with extending the 8% IGV rate for restaurants and hotels.
A sp, They also seek that hairdressers and beauty centers They enjoy the same discounted rate of the IGV. Another project is authorized by the new president of Congress, Jose Jerí, who is from this bench.
The legislator proposes to suspend up to 90 days the application of the Selective consumption tax (ISC) In cases of international war conflict. He presented it when the War between Russia and Ukraine He had already exploded.
From AP also have a similar approach. The exit is to exonerate from the IGV and propose a 10% limit to the deductible expenses of the Income Tax (IR) for purchases of goods to donate in health emergencies. An initiative that occurred in 2021, in full pandemic.
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Doesn’t Flores’s commitment sound credible?
When assuming the presidency, Flores tried to outline what will be the approach that will give to the last economy commission of this Congress.
“We must leave the next government with the financial and budgetary slack necessary to execute urgent reforms in health, citizen security, infrastructure and transport, without neglecting the second generation reforms in our economic model,” pointed out.
However, for three former members of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) consulted by Management, These words are empty, if the content of the indicated projects is taken into account.
“It is years that not only FP, but the entire Congress seeks lament Luis Miguel Castilla.
Victor Flores, Fujimorista and Chemist Pharmaceutical Congressman by profession, will lead the Economy Commission. Photo: Congress.
In a similar line, he thinks Alfredo Thornewho considers that no tax exemption is justifiable because the evidence, as in the case of the tax benefits to the Amazon, has proven not useful, except a limited group.
“De facto each company has a different tax rate. Thus, investors do not act based on profitability, but based on the exemptions that the State gives them. That makes them permanent,” considered.
For its part, for Carlos Casas, former Minister of Economy, there is no doubt that the Economy Commission that will lead Flores is subject to a dilemma between taking two paths with this type of projects. The pressure generated by the next presidential elections of 2026 It is evident.
“A path is to be populist and win votes with this type of proposals that aim to reduce taxes. The other is to maintain fiscal discipline and present themselves as the ones that will protect it. The two alternatives are present behind these projects,” He raised.
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What to expect from now on?
The work led by Flores in front of the Economy Commission not only takes relevance due to the proximity of the elections. It is also the last working group that will approve projects without a major filter. From now on, with the active Senate, the legislative route will be different.
That reason is, for houses, which also generates electoral expectations for congressmen. “They can be re-elected as senators. It is an incentive to stay with populist initiatives without doing an analysis of real cost-benefit. They do not see the long term,” held.
The risk that the above is not corrected with the Senate, for Thorne, is that what calls the politicization of the economy is normal. “They are undermining income and distributing exonerations as if they were owners of fiscal resources. The next government is leaving a time bomb,” He warned.
In that sense, for Castilla, it will be the responsibility of the new Senate to enforce two bolts that exist, both in the Constitution, as in the Tax Code, for the management of proposals that seek tax exemptions.
The first is article 79 of the Constitution that, While the Constitutional Court (TC) “He lightened” so that Congress can establish tax benefits, It does not release that the MEF issues an opinion about it.
“The Tax Code also establishes that to grant these benefits, a study must be had that determine its impact on time. Today is dead letter,” He remembered about the other exit.
