Spanish → English transcript

of the situation in the country.

I have one question left, you have already

talked a lot about the cut,

that the State must be cut,

how much do you estimate needs to be

cut?

because there have been some

figures…

but we have to check what they

leave us first.

What is your estimate?

What we have

absolutely clear is that for

the country to be viable, it has to

achieve a primary fiscal surplus,

which, to explain to

Colombians, is the difference between

revenue and expenses without financial

expense, that is the first

error that must be considered.

We must correct from this

government that in just two years

went from having almost a primary

fiscal surplus to having a primary

deficit of almost 3.5%.

That is to say,

there it would mean at least

in the range of 50 to 60 trillion,

that must be achieved very

quickly.

The cut?

the cut,

but it is not a cut,

it is an effort where there is

evasion control,

smuggling control,

corruption control,

through which there is easily 250

trillion pesos,

and also to properly implement

the law of the General System of

Participation,

that is, the law of...

the one for the regions,

the one for the money that must be

transferred...

of course,

because you send competencies

to the territorial entities.

now,

I want to tell you something

briefly,

for example,

without going into reality,

because we cannot

talk,

to release a list of institutions

that we were supposedly going to

liquidate,

which is false...

that is why I am asking you,

because there are many...

but it is false,

it is false,

there is a huge number of

lists...

it is not from us,

who would think that we are going

to liquidate SENA and

FISETEX,

quite the opposite,

we are going to strengthen them,

because this government

stole them and bankrupted them.

And do you have an estimate of

how many people might

be displaced?

but let me tell you this,

first we have to know

the reality they leave us with,

which we know is disastrous,

but it could be even worse

than we think.

What can I tell you

at first glance?

man,

there's no right for there to be

so many ministries,

right?

at first glance,

what do we do with

so many embassies?

How many can be

cut?

At least half.

Half?

Yes,

But aren't there

ministries?

Of course,

absolutely,

it's just that there are some things

there that shouldn't be.

Do you have projected

half?

We have to review it,

but I'm telling you at first glance

without knowing the depth of

everything.

Embassies?

Of course,

you know the number

of embassies that aren't needed,

and under this government, others

came out,

they send some

petty politicians there to retire

and to drink whiskey and

talk nonsense at

cocktail parties,

no, sir,

we are going to simplify

that, and where there is a real

need, we are going to have

ambassadors who will not be

bureaucrats,

but sellers of

Colombian products,

namely,

oil,

emeralds,

coffee,

coconuts,

cocoa,

everything that we

produce.

What for?

To do what

is necessary to recover

our economy,

we need commercial

agents in that

embassy,

not bureaucrats who

come to retire.

So,

to know what

needs to be done,

we have to get there,

subsidies will continue.

What about the subsidies?

And I ask you because

many people today live,

older adults.

Our government program

is the only government

program that set

president, to the most

vulnerable first,

therefore,

all the

social programs, we will

sustain,

we are even going

to increase some,

for senior citizens,

from 250,000 to 400,000

pesos.

There are other subsidies

that have been used

so that some young people

can engage in crime,

some of them

even ended up

allegedly involved

in the murder of

Miguel Uribe Turbay,

for God's sake,

much better to give those

resources to women

caregivers.

Or to the elderly.

To vulnerable

women,

heads of households.

Of course.