Chilean Congressman Calls Boric's CAE Loan Forgiveness Promise an 'Indelible Stain'

Diego Schalper, a congressman from the National Renewal party, has sharply criticized former President Gabriel Boric's administration over the handling of the promised forgiveness of the CAE (Crédito con Aval del Estado) student loans. Schalper described the promise as an "indelible stain" on Boric's term, arguing that it not only played with people's expectations but also deepened the debt burden for many.

Schalper highlighted the significant financial impact on public finances, stating that accumulated defaults amount to $4.4 billion, which he equated to the cost of three complete employment subsidies. He dismissed as "completely false" the notion of a technical consensus for modifying the system, as mentioned by the former president. Schalper asserted that Boric's government attempted to use the reform as a vehicle to alter higher education financing, a model that the opposition did not support.

The congressman revealed that the opposition repeatedly proposed separating the CAE reform from broader higher education financing changes, a suggestion rejected by the government. He accused La Moneda of attempting to impose a "Trojan horse" strategy. Schalper also acknowledged the former Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá's, admission of errors in managing the forgiveness promise, which he believes led many individuals to stop making payments, thereby encouraging financial non-compliance.

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Le dijimos infinitas veces, se lo dije yo personally al ministro Cataldo, que separaran el proyecto. (...) No estuvieron dispuestos. Nosotros no íbamos a aceptar esa lógica de 'caballo de Troya' que nos quería imponer.