"They keep playing politics, but we're the ones lowering taxes": Luis Caputo criticized provincial governors for the ATN

Amid new tensions between the National Government and provincial governors, Economy Minister Luis Caputo competed with the leaders over two projects that would threaten the stability of the economic program designed with President Javier Milei .

" As a whole, the provinces continue to spend at the same level of GDP . Tax revenue increased by 8%, and the provinces have more resources. The only one using them to lower taxes is the National Government. The provinces aren't using that money to give it back to the people, and now they're asking for more," Caputo said during an interview with La Nación+.

In this regard, the Treasury Secretary polarized the provincial leaders and asserted that they " continue to play the political game ," while the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace) isn't involved in politics. " When they come to me and tell me we have to give them something, I tell them: 'Get out of here'; if they go to the President, it's worse ," he commented.

Caputo highlighted the "record levels of National Treasury Contributions." "We have a fiscal goal; we said we were going to increase it from 1.3 to 1.6 percent, and we have to meet it. Our government isn't based on expectations; it's based on actions, on getting things done. That's the heart of our model: we say something and we deliver ," he stated. Along the same lines, he asserted that the National Executive prioritizes the economy over politics, unlike many governors.

" They can continue playing this game, but we are the ones who guarantee to lower taxes, deregulate the economy, and return the money to the people," he warned. Along with these statements, Caputo spoke about the project to distribute the ATN and the fuel tax, as well as the pension update that Congress is seeking to approve in the coming days.

"They're doing this to cause harm, to continue stealing," the minister charged. "They took the retirees' money before they left, close to 30%. Since we arrived, they've already recovered half of that. Yes, there was a brutal cut, but we recovered 15%," Caputo stated, adding: " The problem is that there are people who want to continue stealing; they're not interested in Argentines. The bottom line isn't the retirees, but breaking up."