Paraguay’s Chamber of Commerce rejects tax increases and demands sacrifices from the state

Paraguay’s National Chamber of Commerce and Services has rejected higher taxes as the government weighs ways to raise more money for health care, arguing that the state must first make its own sacrifices.

The chamber said it viewed proposals to increase the tax burden with concern. The debate intensified after Colorado Senator Silvio Ovelar suggested raising taxes during a meeting with medical representatives, citing shortages facing the health system. Other business groups have also opposed the idea.

The CNCSP said balancing the public accounts remains necessary and shared, but argued that the burden should not once again fall on people who work, produce, invest, create jobs and regularly meet their obligations. Before asking citizens for “new sacrifices,” it said, the current government should show that it is prepared to make sacrifices of its own.

“

The state must do its own part.

The chamber called for a review of spending quality, clearer priorities, the removal of unjustified expenditures, stronger oversight and efficient, transparent administration of public resources. It said fiscal responsibility depends not only on how much the state collects, but also on how it uses money entrusted by society.

The group added that persistent privileges, inefficiencies and decisions that do not address the country’s real needs weaken the state’s moral authority to demand higher contributions. It warned that a greater tax burden could reduce investment capacity, hurt competitiveness, make it harder to sustain jobs and create further incentives for informal economic activity.

“

new sacrifices