A cut with selective scissors
The full Senate said ‘yes’ to putting a stop to millionaire retirements. He did it unanimously. But, as always, the devil is in the details… and those that were left out of the cut.
The reform targets former directors of parastatal companies such as CFE, Pemex or the defunct Luz y Fuerza. Those who retire with payments of up to one million pesos. However, it does not concern former Secretaries of State or the military. An omission that smacks of political commitment from afar.
What does the change consist of?
Basically, it establishes that no pension in the country may exceed half of the salary of the head of the Federal Executive. That’s about 70 thousand pesos per month. And yes, it will be retroactive.
“The Constitution is not a Law, but a fundamental norm,” argued Senator Javier Corral (Morena) to justify retroactivity. According to him, this does not eliminate the right to a pension, it only “limits the existence of high pensions.”
But not everyone swallowed the legal argument whole. Francisco Ramírez Acuña (PAN) expressed his concern: he could step on the issue of human rights and the principles of progressivity and non-regression in terms of social security.
His point is clear: if you’re going to do it, do it well and for everyone.
“The modification proposals… should reach all public bodies, such as the Armed Forces,” said Ramírez Acuña.
Luis Donaldo Colosio (MC) also put a but: he questioned excluding the Judiciary and the military, and warned that using a “fluctuating” presidential salary as a reference could generate legal uncertainty.
Still, everyone voted in favor. They recognized that there are obscene excesses. The federal government estimates savings of about 5 billion pesos per year with this measure. Money that today goes into the pockets of between 3,400 and 5,600 former officials with dream retirements.
The ball is now in the Chamber of Deputies. We will see if San Lázaro approves the ruling as is, or if someone dares to include the other privileged people in the system in the cut.
