After the Guatemalan Congress voted against the bill granting the concession to rehabilitate and operate the Escuintla-Puerto Quetzal highway, the winning company asks to return the process to third reading, but some deputies refuse.
Twelve years after having settled in Guatemala and after multiple struggles for the non-renewal of its mandate, from today the International Commission against Impunity is no longer operating.
In August 2007, the Congress of the Republic approved the creation of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), which arrived in the country with the mission of investigating criminal structures operating within government institutions, work done in association with the Public Prosecutor's Office.
For Fitch Ratings, the results of the General Elections in Guatemala put at risk the approval of reforms necessary for the development of the country, since the next legislature will be composed of deputies from 15 different political parties.
The deputies to the Congress of the Republic who were elected for the 2020-2023 period and who will take office on January 14, 2020, will have the challenge of directing efforts from the legislative in the area of economic development.
With 132 votes in favor, the Congress decided to remove the president's immunity, who will have to face the accusations of corruption.
While the president insists on staying in office, the commission appointed to examine the arguments in President Perez Molina's defense and evidence presented by the prosecution decided unanimously to recommend to Congress to waive his immunity so that he faces judgement.
The General Budget for Revenues and Expenditures for fiscal year 2013 has been approved by the Congress of Guatemala through an express approval.
The law provides for tax revenues of $6.42 billion, placement of treasury bonds for $689 million, external borrowing of $932 million and $463 million in non-tax revenues and grants.
In terms of expenditures, the budget provides $5.41 billion for operations, $1.83 billion for investment and $856 million for debt services.
The Finance Commission of the Legislative approved to issue the bonds and increased them to $874 million.
Originally, the Executive had proposed to issue debt for 4500 million quintals ($562 million), but this figure was increased by the Finance Commission.
The project was conceived to fund the State’s budget, and will now be discussed by Congress.
The "oficialismo" political party will try to pass the tax reform law this week. In their own words, the reform is "absolutely consented".
Some of the changes included in the reform include a tax to the first circulation plate of vehicles, doubling the Vehicle Circulation Tax for 2011 and eliminating added value tax to the second and additional ownership changes for real estate.
The legislative initiative for judicial tax stability for investment and work attempts to attract investment and generate employment.
Rose M. Bolaños, in an article inPrensalibre.com, writes: "With these contracts, the state will guarantee that if the laws or legal norms are modified in the taxation environment, such as tax impositions (internal or customs) as well as perquisites or other identified contract measures, investors will have the right to continue applying the existing laws that were in force at the moment of the signing of the contract."
Within the amendments of the Contracting Law, a proposal was formulated to implement changes in the web site Guatecompras.
Prensalibre.com publishes in its website: "If these modifications are incorporated into the initiative—that is to be approved in its third reading—, the national and international agencies and the associations and trusts, among others, will be obligated to use Guatecompras."
The Congress approved two loans for $28.5 million which will be added to the $950 million that were approved last Tuesday to finance the national budget.
PRENSALIBRE.com reports, "The decision to approve another loan for $30 million (Q237 million) - in aid for the criminal justice system -, was postponed at the request of the "Eferregistas" lawmakers who asked for more time to analyze it, as they claimed that "not even the Supreme Court knew all the details."
Congress approved five loans totaling $950 million to finance this year's budget.
MIPUNTO.com reports on its website: "...while three other loans for $58 million are still pending, said a lawmaker.
The sub-head of the governing fraction, Nery Samayoa, explained that the funds will be granted by the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank."
Congress approved the Fonpetrol Law which establishes a new distribution of the royalties for the extraction of crude oil and allows for the extension, for up to 15 years, of current petroleum contracts.
The law established a 5% royalty on petroleum to be distributed among all the Departmental Development Councils; 20% will go to the departmental councils which have petroleum operations. 3 percent will be used for environmental protection.
The Opposition and representatives on the Finance Commission are reluctant to approve the initiatives which are supposed to increase collection of taxes.
Even though the Finance Commission is yet to issue a resolution, the main forces in Congress are said to be opposed to the increase in the Solidarity Tax rate to 1.25 and to the new registration tax for new vehicles.
Las week the session of Congress introduced a bill called the Access to Public Information Law.
In the midst of the turbulance caused by the transparency scandals in the Legislature, the law could not have arrived at a better time. Now that the deputies are "washing their faces" before the citizens they are starting to approve this initiative.
The Constitution contemplates free access to public information but, typical of public officials, they did not pay attention to citizen requirements, especially those of the national press.
Private-sector companies, both national and foreign, will be invited to participate in Guatemalan public-sector infrastructure projects under a bill published yesterday.
The bill aims to create a private-public "alliance for development" in which the private sector finances projects.
Top priorities are the construction of ports, airports and highway, where investment of US$200 million to US$300 million is required.