The government of Evo Morales has proposed a change in the pension system in Bolivia. This reform is aimed at ensure a pension for all the citizens of the Andean country. Nowadays, just people who manage to gain more than 1400 B$ (130€) per month have the chance to get a pension once they’ll be old, thanks to their individual contribution to the tax system through the years. The reform, through a solidarity fund financed by the government, wants to make sure that all the people who gain less than the above amount may receive a monthly economic entrance, which may vary from 397 B$ up to 1077 B$, depending on how many years the citizen has worked. José Luis Pérez, deputy minister of pensions for the government, has affirmed that the state has already 20 millions US$ ready to finance this reform, which, in its first year of implementation, may benefit up to 14.000 people. In the picture you may see the graphic presented by the deputy minister, in order to explain the different income bands interested by the reform.
In these weeks the government is announcing the future implementation of many social policies. Even though the government has done much in these 30 months to redistribute the wealth in the country through the nationalization of many strategic companies (gas, oil, mining, telecomunication) it’s facing a struggling referendum in 3 weeks, where people will decide if to keep going with the same government or to go to new presidential elections. The result of the referendum is narrowed, the government may win or lose for a small percentage. It makes sense for them to announce all these new solidarity programmes.
The d-day for Bolivia will be the 10th of August; the first indigenous President of Latin America, Evo Morales Ayma, will be confirmed or not? I think it’s gonna be difficult, if Morales will manage he’ll have 30 months more to try to change this country, if not, Bolivia will go back to the neo-liberist pro US government policies which have characterized the country in the last 25 years.

Nicola Momentè

PICTURE:

LINKS:
www.comunicabolivia.com
www.bolpress.com
www.la-razon.com