The Senate approved the addendum that releases US$1,023 million from Portezuelo for infrastructure works

It is worth remembering that the Court ruled that The industrial promotion policy applied by the national government through Decrees 804/96, 1125/96 and 69/97 was detrimental to the province of Mendoza. That’s where the compensation that the Nation paid comes from and that could now become a permanent coffer for various local infrastructure initiatives.

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Ideas and agreements

At the time of being discussed in the session room, the president of the Finance and Budget commission in the Senate, Senator Angela Floridia contextualized the issue, recalling that the industrial promotion applied in the 90s discriminated against Mendoza, leading her to sue the national State in 1998.

In 2006, the Nation recognized the claim and committed to financing the work of Portezuelo del Viento. In 2018, an award was favorable to Mendoza and in 2019 the debt of US$ 1,023 million was authorized to be canceled. However, in 2022, the president Alberto Fernández ordered a review of the technical studies, which harmed the progress of the project. The senator highlighted that Governor Alfredo Cornejo managed to have the funds this year to advance other works, requesting the ratification of the decree.

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Later, the senator Martin Rostandfrom La Unión Mendocina, argued against the addendumpointing out that it allows the Government to freely dispose of the funds, which could lead to discretion in its use. He also stressed that the large compensation should be used for structural works that enhance the development of Mendoza, especially in the south of the province. He criticized the dispersion of funds and advocated for an approach more focused on long-term projects.

Mauricio Sat, from the Justicialist Party, said that the addendum erases years of history and accused the provincial government of wanting to use the funds for its own interests. He also highlighted the damage that industrial promotion caused in San Rafael and criticized the government’s lack of commitment to the work of Portezuelo del Viento and questioned the integrity of the political leaders who have changed their position.

The provisional president of the Senate, Martín Kerchner Tomba (UCR)criticized the position of the province of La Pampa, pointing out the lack of concrete actions in previous governments and defending the efforts made during the administration of Governor Alfredo Cornejo, highlighting that the governments of Celso Jaque and Francisco Pérez did not carry out significant works.

Likewise, he highlighted the works carried out during the administration of Alfredo Cornejo, especially in the south of the province, specifically mentioning the speed bump bridge over the Diamante River, in San Rafael. He also defended the technical and legal process carried out for the Portezuelo del Viento project, criticizing the lack of foundations of La Pampa’s objections and accusing the government of Alberto Fernández of stopping the project due to political decisions.

In turn, the senator Felix Gonzalez (PJ) opened the debate with severe criticism about the lack of agreements and the inability of Mendoza politics to dialogue. He highlighted that Mendoza has lost the capacity for discussion and consensus necessary to promote works like Portezuelo, due to the lack of negotiations and agreements with other provinces. The Justicialist legislator also questioned the repayment criteria imposed on the projects, arguing that many do not have an immediate repayment capacity. According to him, this approach limits the possibilities of developing important works for the Province.

The senator German Vicchi, from La Unión Mendocina, shared Félix González’s concern about transparency and the management of trusts. He also criticized the lack of control and transparency in the administration of the funds, noting that ““No balance sheets or quarterly reports have been presented to the Court of Auditors.”. “Efficiency and transparency are absent in the current management,” she asserted.

Adriana Cano, president of the Justicialist Party in the Senate, offered a critical view of the management history of the Portezuelo project. She described the project as “the story of a failure and highlighted the inability of the Mendoza leadership to reach agreements beneficial to the province. He also criticized the economic and social situation of Mendoza, mentioning problems such as high youth unemployment, low public investment and lack of economic development programs. He added that from his block, they would vote in a divided manner.

The closing was in charge of the president of the ruling bloc, Senator Natacha Eisenchlaswho made an urgent call to his colleagues in the Senate to focus on enabling investment of tied up funds.

In a context of deep economic crisis, Eisenchlas highlighted the critical situation of thousands of Mendoza residents who live in poverty and face a growing recession. The senator insisted that Mendoza has a unique opportunity to reactivate its economya possibility that other provinces do not have, and that is the result of years of effort by political leaders of various parties.

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An uncomfortable position in the Legislature

Jésica Laferte, provincial senator, defender of Portezuelo del Viento, has been a fervent promoter of the project since 2013, highlighting its potential to generate works and genuine employment in Mendoza. Laferte firmly believes in the reactivation of works for the people of Mendoza and is convinced that, if the proposals and pillars of development of the productive matrix are met, strengthening and expanding it, numerous works can be carried out in Malargüe and throughout the province.

Laferte stressed that Malargüe has great mining potential, and for its development, energy, gas, infrastructure and connectivity works are essential. Without a doubt, the defender assured that there will be a broad contribution of works in Malargüe and throughout the South, with a significant impact throughout the province.

Although the decision to support the project was difficult on a personal level, Laferte stated that, from a rational perspective, the approval is aimed at reactivating frozen funds, which have generated losses of approximately 100 million dollars.

The addendum

The addendum It was signed on April 25, 2024 by the Minister of the Interior of the Nation, Guillermo Alberto Francosthe Minister of Economy of the Nation, Luis “Toto” Caputoand the governor of Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo.

The provincial decree stipulates that the resources will be applied exclusively to finance infrastructure works necessary for provincial development and its accessoriesexpressly prohibiting its application to current expenses.