A long-standing law grants legislators two exemptions to import vehicles without any limit during each of their terms in Congress. Diario Libre reports on how the facility has evolved into a lucrative business for the legislators that cede their rights to dealers that import luxury vehicles.
Diario Libre reports that from 1 January to 2010 to 12 September 2021, 1,148 vehicles with a total value of US$132,964,375 have been imported. Included are Mercedes Benz (253), Lexus (226), Porsche (183), Toyota (139), Land Rover (127) Ferrari (45), Lamborghini (40), BMW (23), Bentley (21), McLaren (21), Audi (14), Rolls-Royce (11), Nissan (8), Cadillac (6), Chevrolet 6, Jaguar (4), Maserati (4), Aston Martin (3), Hyundai (3), Volvo (3), Infiniti (2), Acura (1), Dodge (1), Ford (1), Honda (1), Jeep (1), and Zhongtong (1)
It is obvious the Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborhini, Bentley, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Maserati are not adequate vehicles for the commuting of a legislator.
The vehicular tax exonerations are part of the perks of being a legislator. They come with the job of the 190 deputies and 32 senators of the country and are awarded every four year term, according to Law 57-96. The law issued in 1996 modified a previous law that set a ceiling of US$18,000 on the cost of the vehicle to be imported.
Deputy Eduardo Hidalgo told Diario Libre that the tax exonerations are sold to cover electoral campaign expenditures.
Recently a McLaren was involved in a traffic accident that sent a senior citizen to the hospital with serious injuries. The McLaren is registered in the name of former Independencia province congressman, Pablo Santana Diaz. He said he had sold the exoneration to car dealership Autohaus.
Diario Libre reports that the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, says he favors changing the privilege. According to Hacienda, in 2020 an exoneration in his name allowed for the import of a US$189,800 tax-free Bentley.
The civic watchdog group, Participación Ciudadana says that legislators should only get their wages.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
28 September 2021