Cristian Ritondo criticized the opposition's pension reform: "It took a lot of effort to achieve this fiscal balance."
In an interview with A24, Representative Cristian Ritondo , head of the PRO party in the province of Buenos Aires, harshly criticized the opposition's proposal to modify the pension system, arguing that it undermines thefiscal balance achieved by the government. According to the legislator, the opposition 's proposal represents an attempt to generate "economic problems" without explaining how the changes will be financed.
“Basically, this is a session held by the opposition so that Congress can determine matters that are the responsibility of the Executive Branch. If something is going to be increased, we must first determine where it will come from,” Ritondo said. He added: “It took a lot of effort to achieve the fiscal balance we have today. It was an effort by all Argentines.”
The legislator criticized Kirchnerism for the current conditions of the retirement system and for past policies that, according to him, generated debt and imbalances. "They left behind a disability care system that was in arrears, a retirement law that harmed senior citizens, and now they're coming to provide solutions without taking responsibility for the mess they left behind," he stated.
Cristian Ritondo also accused the opposition of politically profiting from social unrest. “Kirchnerism has always championed the 'the worse, the better' ideology. They think that if the government does poorly, they have a chance of returning, even if that means doing poorly for the Argentine people as well,” he said.
Asked whether the bill could be vetoed if approved, Ritondo avoided giving a direct answer, but warned that any reform must have economic backing. “We have to calculate the fiscal deficit well. We all know that retirees are underpaid, but we can't solve it with more debt or issuing banknotes like before,” he emphasized.
At the same time, he insisted that the pension system must have solid and sustainable foundations. "We can't continue with moratoriums without support. Many received their pensions without having contributed, and that harmed those who had contributed for years," he emphasized.
Regarding the session in the House of Representatives, Ritondo acknowledged that the opposition had the necessary votes. "They achieved a quorum with 132 representatives. They will have the number to pass the bill to the Senate. And they will also achieve it in the Senate," he stated.
Finally, the head of the Buenos Aires PRO addressed the discontent over the recent salary increases in Congress. "What senators are receiving is outrageous. The Argentine people made an enormous effort, and that should be reflected in the representatives as well," he concluded.
Cristian Ritondo concluded his statement with an emphatic message: "It's not just about being sensitive. We have to be responsible. If we don't say where we get our money from, we can't promise anything."
elintransigente
