The Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo announced this Sunday that if Congress insists on the University Financing Law, which Javier Milei has already vetoed, They will “probably” appeal to Justice.
In an interview granted to LN+, Caputo recalled that the Financial Administration Act indicates that “Congress cannot present a expense without a counterpart of financing.”
“We are obviously going to appeal,” commented the minister. When asked if this implied that they would go to court, Caputo responded: “Yes, probably. Always within the framework of the law.”
“I have to do what the law says, but It would be good for deputies and senators to do so as well,” Caputo said and recalled that the Senate regulations also state that the Upper House cannot discuss an increase in spending that has no counterpart.
He also said that the issue should be debated within the framework of the Budget discussions. and spoke of a stinging case.
“We have the case of the University of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. From 2020 to 2023, 0.62 percent of the students, 16, were received. 100 million (pesos) per graduate“, he listed and finished: “Almost It was cheaper to send them to Harvard“.
On October 3, just before the deadline to do so, the President vetoed the University Financing Law that Congress had approved with the votes of Kirchnerists, radicals and some members of the PRO. The threat of the presidential veto had led the universities to call a mobilization that took place on October 2.
The Minister of Economy assured that the Government has given the universities “everything they have asked for.” “If teachers have to earn more still that the rest of the public employees, Perfect, let’s debate it in Congress and let’s define How is that financed?. No problem”, he added.
Caputo suggested that public universities aim to avoid audits. “We seek transparency and “The old politics is the owner of ostracism”he stated.
And he generalized: “They are always looking for this type of autarkic entities, trusts, things that do not require an audit. These are things that we fight.”
Meanwhile, when referring to the green light that the Ministry of Health gave to the province of Mendoza to import medicines from India with the aim of lowering costs for the population, he said that he agrees and suggested disagreement with the increases that has registered this item.
“I do not agree that medications continue to rise as they did. We have to use the resources we can to try to minimize these costs for people,” he commented without delving into the issue.
Luis Caputo said that the strikes built support for the privatization of Aerolíneas Argentinas
On the other hand, the minister spoke about the decree that enables the privatization of Argentine Airlines. He said that currently it is “the most viable option” and that there are more deputies and senators willing to accompany after the strikes of the aeronautical unions.
“We had put it in the Base Law, they removed it and (Pablo) Biró did everything possible to get him back on his feet.“Caputo recalled about the negotiation that existed with some senators, who gave their vote in exchange for the airline being removed from the list of companies subject to privatization.
“Now there are many more deputies and senators willing to vote for it because Biró exposed all the sloppiness that exists in the company. We saw that from day one, but it is much more exposed now than we had been able to do,” Caputo said about the consequences of the strikes carried out by the aeronautical unions.
He insisted that the option currently is to privatize the company so that it continues to operate but more efficiently. “If you don’t vote, “We are analyzing other alternatives.”he commented without providing more details.
On the other hand, he announced that They closed the National Water and Sanitation Works Entity because, I assure you, “It is a den of corruption.”
He explained that ENOHSA’s functions overlap with those of the Undersecretary of Water Resources. “It is centralized in ENOHSA because it is more difficult to audit”considered.
Caputo confirmed that he will not attend Congress to explain the 2025 Budget
On the other hand, Caputo announced that will not attend the Congress to provide explanations about the project Budget 2025as Economy Ministers usually do, because “it is a Kirchnerism show“.
“I’m going to have talks here with the deputies and senators who are really interested in discussing the budget,” he said and commented that they will attend the venue. Carlos Guberman, Secretary of the Treasury, and Pablo Quirno, Secretary of Finance.
“The other thing is a show of Kirchnerism. I I work like a dog, “I’m not going to spend a day putting on a show for Kirchnerism,” he explained when asked about the reasons for his absence.
He added that if the Kirchnerist legislators care about the technical part, they can consult Guberman who, he said, “is the person most involved that was involved.”
The fight with Cristina Kirchner and why Caputo decided to answer her “stay screaming”
The minister was also consulted about his recent exchange with Cristina Kirchner, which occurred in the context of the social network X on September 23. The vice president had made a parallel between the fires recorded in Córdoba and economic policy and Caputo came out to respond: “Stay calmly screaming, that’s the most you can do.”
Javier Milei’s official said that he does not respond “much” to the grievances, and recalled that in the administration of Cambiemos they had been instilled “that it was better not to answer.”
“I don’t think that’s good.” because they install things that are not true,” he said about the recommendations made to him during the Macri administration.
Caputo maintained that If something seems “wrong”, he “sets the bar” and revealed that he did so with the former vice president because she is a “person of relevance” since she does not respond to all insults. “I don’t have water in my veins either.“he admitted.