Argentine Congress approves Fernandez recovery bill
Argentina's Senate passed President Alberto Fernández's sweeping emergency economic package in the early hours of Saturday morning, which the new leader hopes will drag Argentina out of crisis.
It is Fernández's first legislative victory since he took office on December 10, after defeating Mauricio Macri in the presidential election amid the worst economic and debt crisis in two decades.
The Social Solidarity and Productive Recovery Bill passed early Saturday by 41 to 23, after its passage in the Lower House on Friday by 134 to 110.
Fernández's center-left 'Front for All' was joined by a handful of dissident Peronists and by lawmakers from minor parties - but former President Macri's right-wing 'Let's Change' remained unified in their opposition.
In both houses, 'Let's Change' attempted to deny the bill quorum - albeit unsuccessfully.
The sweeping legislative package includes increasing wealth taxes from 0.25% to 1.5% for the highest bracket, increases of 5.3% in most farm export taxes, a 30% surcharge on foreign currency purchases - a major vehicle for capital flight.
But the bill also includes subsidized credit for business and farms, eliminating taxes on time deposits (a popular middle class investment), a 6-month freeze in utility rates (which rose over 2000% under Macri), and new social benefits including bonuses for low-income retirees and a food card - similar to an EBT card - for the poorest two million households.
Twin economic and debt crises inherited from Macri have pushed income poverty rates from 28% in 2017 to nearly 41% currently.
Fernández faces a $195 billion public foreign debt - much of which has been in default since September - 52% inflation, and a 7.4% fall in GDP since the crisis began in April 2018.
At: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/fernandezs-economic-emergency-law-wins-approval-in-senate.phtml
Argentine President Alberto Fernández examines a draft of his Social Solidarity and Productive Recovery Bill, passed by Congress early this morning.
Fernández's bill seeks to stimulate economic growth, while reining in deficits with higher taxes on the wealthy, currency trade, and large agroexporters - the biggest beneficiaries under the previous Macri administration.
