Parliamentarians vote today on the pension reform and the Isapres Short Law – La Discusión 2024-02-29 17:44:04

The government of President Gabriel Boric will experience a key “super Wednesday” in the National Congress: parliamentarians from both chambers will vote on the pension reform project and the so-called Short Isapres Law.

The day will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Chamber of Deputies to settle the discussion of the Executive’s symbol initiative, which seeks to increase citizens’ pensions through an additional 6% contribution. charged to the employer, among other aspects.

Specifically, the presidential administration hopes to create a new mixed pension system and social insurance in the contributory pillar, as well as improve the Universal Guaranteed Pension (PGU) and establish benefits and regulatory modifications on the matter.

The project reached the Chamber yesterday following an intense discussion and negotiation between the Executive and parliamentarians in the Labor and Finance committees, where even the Government had to give in to a new proposal for the distribution of the 6% additional contribution: 3% to individual capitalization with intragenerational solidarity, and the other 3% social security.

The initiative requires 78 votes for the idea of ​​legislation to be approved (general vote). Some deputies from Chile Vamos have announced that they will reject the project, while centrist forces, such as the Christian Democracy (DC) and the People’s Party (PDG) have expressed their support.

Meanwhile, other sectors, such as Democrats, still maintain suspense. However, the Executive would have obtained the necessary support following various meetings with parliamentarians.

However, the situation for the Government is complicated in the vote in particular on the reform. In fact, there would still be no majority consensus in the Chamber on the proposal to distribute the 6% additional contribution.

Isapres short law

The day for the Government will continue in the Senate, when from 4:00 p.m. the Chamber begins to discuss and vote on the so-called Isapres Short Law. This following the Treasury Commission dispatched the project and achieved the reinstatement of the key indication that contemplates an extraordinary increase in the base prices of health plans.

This rule seeks to comply with the rulings that the Supreme Court issued for the Pension Health Institutions (Isapres) and avoid the crisis. The initiative is in its final days of processing in the Upper House.

Yesterday, the project was approved in its entirety, covering crucial aspects such as the tenders for the Complementary Coverage Modality and the creation of the Advisory Council. In addition, the green light was given to the article that grants the Superintendent of Health the power to set the GES Premium of the Isapres, generating criticism from the opposition who argue that this limits the free establishment of insurance prices.