Former Interior and Security Minister Carolina Tohá criticized the Chilean government's recent budget directives as being driven by ideology rather than technical necessity. Speaking at a seminar convened by the Political Party for Democracy (PPD) this Saturday, Tohá addressed proposed cuts to 142 programs outlined by the Ministry of Finance, according to latercera.com.
The Ministry of Finance issued an official document requesting each ministry to formulate their 2027 Budget Bill proposals. This request includes a Financial Programming plan for the 2028-2031 period for each department.
Tohá noted that the official document explicitly calls for a 'change of paradigm' in how the budget is formulated. She argued that this definition transcends technical administration and enters the realm of ideology.
"This level, sincerely, as the persistence, the depth and the quality of everything we are seeing, escapes all parameters," Tohá told party members during the seminar.
A shift toward 'refoundational' policy
Tohá pointed out a contradiction in the current administration's approach to governance. She noted that officials currently in power previously criticized President Boric’s administration for being 'refoundational.'
“Those who are in government today dedicated the entire Boric administration to criticizing him for being refoundational. This what we are seeing now, this is indeed refoundational,” she added.
Beyond the budget, Tohá addressed the government's Plan for Economic and Social Reconstruction and Development. The initiative includes a series of measures regarding taxation, employment, regulation, permits, investment, and public spending.
Tohá warned that the proposed reforms could further weaken the state's financial stability. “That reform will mean defunding the State, which is already somewhat underfunded, but after that reform, it will be even more defunded,” she stated.
The former minister also warned of an 'ideological shift' impacting social policies that have been in place for decades. She concluded by calling for more dialogue and less political rigidity.
“I would invite the government, when it proposes such a radical agenda as the one it is putting before us in tax matters, to listen, to collect the arguments of others, to not have that arrogance and that ideologism,” Tohá said.
