Colombians protest tax increase proposal amid pandemic

[peppertree]

Tens of thousands of people marched in Colombia Wednesday against a proposed tax reform they say will leave them poorer as the country battles its deadliest phase yet of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Iván Duque's government wants to tax the incomes of those earning more than US$656 a month, lowering the threshold to broaden the tax base.

It also wants to impose a tax on basic services in upper-middle class areas and on funerals.

The measures are meant to raise some US$6.3 billion in 10 years for the country which saw GDP drop 6.8% in 2020 – its worst performance in half a century.

At: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/colombians-protest-tax-reform-proposal-amid-pandemic.phtml

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest in Bogotá yesterday against a tax reform bill proposed by Colombian President Iván Duque.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Insane, and preposterous. Taxes on funerals? Really?

Fluffy little bloodthirsty Uribe pet, President Iván Duque, seems to be trying to push the suffering people over the edge.

No one has liked him from the first, other than the truly twisted corrupt murderous criminal interests in the higher levels of the racist fascist government.

The protesters have every right to be totally angry about Iván Duque. He will go after them, unfortunately. They are courageous.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Protesters March In Colombia Against Plan To Raise Taxes In Pandemic-Wracked Economy

April 30, 20214:03 PM ET
JOHN OTIS



Protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks carry empty coffins during a national strike to protest a government-proposed tax reform, in Bogotá, Colombia, on Wednesday.
Fernando Vergara/AP

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — While marching in nationwide demonstrations this week, Pablo Mora wore a face mask to protect himself from the coronavirus. But every so often, the retired security guard took it off and blew a whistle to voice his disgust with Colombia's government.

COVID-19 deaths are spiking, the vaccine rollout has been slow and even though Colombia is still climbing out of its deepest economic downturn, President Iván Duque is trying to raise taxes. All this prompted massive protests in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and other cities by shopkeepers, union leaders, teachers, university students and retirees.

As he took a breather from blowing his whistle, Mora, who is 72 but has yet to be vaccinated, said: "We feel totally abandoned by the government."

Colombian officials have tried to discourage the marches — which began Wednesday and have yet to die down — saying they could become coronavirus super-spreader events at a critical moment. Across Colombia, hospital intensive care units are nearly full and on Thursday the health authorities reported 505 deaths in a single day from COVID-19, a new record. Meanwhile, just a tiny fraction of Colombians have been vaccinated.

More:
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/30/992142575/protesters-march-in-colombia-against-plan-to-raise-taxes-in-pandemic-wracked-eco