“Greater debt and inflation” – 2025 – “Mayor endeudamiento e inflación”

By Opinion:

“Greater debt and inflation”: Cainco gives five reasons for the ALP to reject the 2025 PGE

Imagen referencial de dinero en bolivianos./ ARCHIVO
Referential image of Bolivian currency./ ARCHIVE

December 4 (Urgente.bo) – After analyzing the draft General State Budget Law (PGE) for 2025, the Santa Cruz Chamber of Industry, Commerce, Services, and Tourism (Cainco) has urged the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP) to reject the proposal, presenting five arguments to request its revision by the Executive Branch.

“The current economic situation in the country demands adjustments that should be reflected in this central instrument of economic policy; adjustments that effectively address the urgent needs of the country. However, the draft law submitted by the Executive to the ALP once again reflects an irresponsible decision to persist with an exhausted model that also significantly undermines the country’s institutional framework,” the entity stated.

The first argument Cainco presents for rejecting the PGE 2025 concerns the “direct threat to macroeconomic stability,” which includes a fiscal deficit of Bs 35 billion, equivalent to 9.2% of GDP. This deficit can only be financed through the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB) and the Public Pension Fund Manager, involving an internal debt line of Bs 60 billion.

“This constitutes inorganic issuance, whose direct consequence is higher inflation.”

The second argument is unsustainability. The PGE 2025 aims to finance the fiscal deficit through external debt, which will reach Bs 14 billion, equivalent to USD 2 billion.

“The State’s strategy cannot continue focusing solely on borrowing as the only source of foreign exchange.”

The third argument highlights a “violation of institutional norms,” pointing out that the Central Bank of Bolivia’s law has been breached to obtain financing beyond prudent limits.

The fourth argument, “market repression and distortion,” is based on the PGE’s proposed control of inflation through price controls.

“The project exceeds the constitutional authority of fiscal policy since its scope covers the operations of income, spending, and public sector debt, not those outlined in other sections of the constitutional text.”

Finally, Cainco questions the scope of the PGE 2025, which fails to acknowledge the deep crisis the country has faced since 2023.

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