He Ecuadorian president, Daniel Noboa, asked lawmakers to consider a increase in value added tax to finance their efforts aimed at fight criminal gangswhile the armed forces intensified their operations in violent areas on Friday.
A dramatic increase in violence this week – including the on-air assault of a television station, the taking of 178 prison staff hostage by prisoners and the kidnapping of police officers – appears to be a response by the criminal gangs to Noboa’s plans to address the security situation.
The state of emergency in Ecuador
Noboa, who took office in November, declared a state of emergency and named 22 gangs as terrorist organizations and military targets. Three hostages were released, the SNAI prison agency said late Thursday, with the help of the Catholic Church and the Red Cross. Another 21 detainees in the Cuenca prison were treated by the Red Cross, he added.
The government explained that they are carrying out operations to free hostages held in at least seven prisonsbut there was little information about his condition, which generated criticism from his families and colleagues. Security worsened at the same time as serious economic problems, while the country deals with internal liquidity problems and limited external financing options.
The proposal of the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa
The Noboa tax proposal, sent to the National Assembly late on Thursday, would increase the value added tax (VAT) by three points from 12% to 15%. The bill is considered urgent and must be approved within 30 days.
The legislators -in a rare display of unity- They have already approved two urgent government proposals of Noboa, another tax bill aimed at increasing youth employment and a law designed to attract investment in the electricity sector.
“The current security crisis in Ecuador underscores the urgency of increasing possible tax collection for the State,” Noboa said in a document shared by the Assembly. ““The increase in VAT will give the State a constant source of income.”
How much would the measure proposed by Daniel Noboa raise?
The measure could raise some 1.3 billion dollars a year and It could go into effect in March if approved by lawmakers. Funds would be allocated to finance weapons and equipment for security forces and improvements to the prison system, as well as payments owed to regional governments, according to the document.
Ecuador closed 2023 with un fiscal deficit of over 5.7 billion dollarsAccording to the government.
The help of social networks to arrest members of armed gangs in Ecuador
The Armed forces They said that on social networks that intensified the operations in several provinces, arresting gang members and confiscating weapons.
While, the attorney general’s office reported that three people were detained accused of planning an attack against the commander of the national police, without providing further details. Police did not comment on the matter.
The deterioration of security in Ecuador
He Noboa government He blames the deteriorating security situation on the increase in drug trafficking through Ecuador, which borders Colombia and Peru, cocaine-producing countries, and became a major drug shipping point. On Thursday, Noboa presented details of two new high security prisons which he promised to build to retain the main leaders of criminal gangs.
Ecuador will ask people that enter the country through its borders with Peru and Colombia to show theircriminal records for the duration of the state of emergency, the government said late Thursday.
Source: Ambito
