on Thursday affirmed that the Executive Branch decided to veto the Congress-approved law which eliminates the life pension for former Presidents of the Republic, as she considers that more than strengthening the image of the Head of State, the bill weakens it and could even lead to arbitrariness.
In statements to the press, the Cabinet chief pointed out that the provisions contained in the regulation seem to be based on the generality that all presidents are going to commit irregularities, which is incorrect, but also because there is already a provision that suspends the life pension for former presidents who face a constitutional complaint.
The high-ranking official explained that no Head of State can be left unprotected after completing a mandate because —although "there have been some lucky ones who were supposedly paid a considerable amount for conferences"— it could be difficult to find a job for others.
In addition, the Prime Minister explained that the law in question did not completely eliminate the pension, but could turn it into a pension of grace for a former president, if Congress decides so, which could be arbitrary.
"Under what criteria does any Congress, as we are not talking about one in particular, define whether or not it grants a pension to a Head of State. So, it seemed to us that, as the bill has been crafted —instead of helping to consolidate the image of a Head of State— the bill not only weakens it, but also puts it into question," she pointed out.
Lastly, the government's spokeswoman deemed as worrying that the same legal text incorporates a provision for the security entourage of former presidents to be maintained only during their first two years after leaving office, which would plunge the ex-presidents into a situation of vulnerability, in terms of personal safety.