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Original article: “Gobiernan para los ricos”: Jara y Elizalde acusan a Kast de abrir paso a una megarreforma económico-tributaria disfrazada 

«Governance for the Wealthy»: Jara and Elizalde Accuse Kast of Pushing a Disguised Mega Tax Reform

Former presidential candidate and ex-Minister of Labor, Jeannette Jara, along with ex-Minister of the Interior, Álvaro Elizalde, have accused José Antonio Kast, of «governing for the rich» and advocating for a disguised mega tax reform.

Both former officials criticized the economic and political framework implemented by the far-right president, highlighting its improvisational nature and the focus on protecting the interests of the highest income sectors in the country.

Jara targeted the management of Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz, describing him as the most “irresponsible” minister she has seen in recent history, warning that his measures threaten the financial well-being of Chileans, particularly with the recent introduction of the 42-hour work week.

She denounced the issuance of contradictory memos that cast doubt on the continuity of acquired rights such as the Guaranteed Universal Pension (PGU).

“I have never seen a finance minister so irresponsible that they would send a memo to everyone only to later claim that their own memo had no value. This is serious. When they recommend reviewing the budget for the PGU, my question is: what do they want to tell Chileans: that they will reduce it or are they testing the waters to see if they can pass it?”, she said.

In statements collected by Diario U. de Chile, she warned that “the PGU cannot be rolled back in our country.”

Regarding the first month and a half of José Kast’s government, the former cabinet member indicated that only symbolic measures have been taken, such as digging a trench in the north to supposedly address migration and crime.

The former presidential candidate pointed out that the decision not to implement the MEPCO (Fuel Price Stabilization Mechanism) has spurred gasoline prices, transferring the increased cost of fuel to Chilean families who have had to confront rising inflation.

She accused the far-right leader and his ministers of «governing for the wealthy«.

«If not, they would have applied the MEPCO,» Jara criticized.

Elizalde: “It’s Not Enough to Disguise as a Statesman, One Must Be a Statesman”

Meanwhile, former Minister Álvaro Elizalde criticized the government’s push for a «covert» mega tax reform aimed at reducing state revenue to benefit «those who have and earn more», taking into account controversial measures like the reduction of the first-category tax from 27% to 23%; the tax invariability status for long-term investments (25 years); the elimination of the tax on capital gains from stock trading; and the implementation of a tax credit for formal employment.

On tax invariability, he pointed out that “it implies that the next six presidents and the next six congresses will not be able to modify these provisions.”

“The mistakes made today will harm future generations,” he warned, as reported by Diario U. de Chile.

Elizalde also questioned the attitude and expressions of Kast regarding both the opposition and former officials from former President Gabriel Boric’s administration.

“It’s not enough to disguise as a statesman, one must be a statesman. When one resorts to derogatory language, they are far from being so,” he stated.

La entrada «Governance for the Wealthy»: Jara and Elizalde Accuse Kast of Pushing a Disguised Mega Tax Reform se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.