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Original article: “Inaceptables contradicciones”: Boric cuestiona castigo a deudores CAE y bloqueo al secreto bancario

Former President Gabriel Boric has raised concerns about the debt collection actions taken by the General Treasury of the Republic (TGR) against debtors of the State-Guaranteed Credit (CAE). He also condemned the Senate’s right-wing bloc for blocking the approval of a bill aimed at lifting bank secrecy through administrative means, avoiding the need for judicial authorization in certain cases related to suspicious operations.

In a public statement, the ex-president pointed out “unacceptable contradictions” between the penalties imposed on those with education debts and the refusal of right-wing legislators to move forward on tools like lifting bank secrecy to investigate large-scale economic crimes, combat money laundering, and address the financing of organized crime.

As seen in two previous occasions, the vote ended in a 24 to 24 tie, causing the bill to establish the Economic Intelligence Subsystem—which included a provision allowing the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF) to lift bank secrecy without prior judicial authorization—to move to a Mixed Commission.

This proposal aims to detect money laundering and illegal financing; enhance information sharing among the Internal Revenue Service, Customs, and the Financial Analysis Unit; and strengthen money traceability.

Boric recalled that during his administration, there was a technical consensus to advance a new system for financing higher education, but he asserted that the initiative failed due to opposition from the right.

In his statement, the former leader expressed concern that the TGR, under the directive of the Ministry of Finance, has emptied the bank accounts of hundreds of student loan debtors immediately after they received their salaries, creating significant financial difficulties for many families.

“Today, those debtors face unexpected account seizures, leading to severe economic crises in their families’ finances,” he declared.

 Why is there penalty for families while being lenient toward organized crime operations?

He criticized those who support these collection actions yet vote against facilitating the tools for lifting bank secrecy:

“The same individuals who justify this punishment for indebted families vote against it, even though it is clear that organized crime uses banks to launder and transfer their resources,” he stated.

“Where are the priorities? Why is there inflexibility and punishment for working families while remaining lenient toward organized crime businesses?” he questioned.

In conclusion, Boric expressed his support for the citizens affected by the “unacceptable contradictions of politics” and urged progressive forces to raise their voices and introduce proposals for a fair education financing system.

“I stand in solidarity with those who today witness and experience these unacceptable contradictions. Progressive forces must raise their voices to end these seizures and bank account emptyings due to educational debts, renew proposals for a fair educational financing system, and remain steadfast in pursuing and striking against organized crime, particularly targeting its financial routes,” the former president concluded.

La entrada Boric Criticizes Financial Penalties for CAE Debtors and Bank Secrecy Blockage se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.