Mayors Demand Fair Transport Subsidies and Remediar Plan Restoration

Around 80 to 90 mayors from different political backgrounds gathered at the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday to demand changes to the 2027 budget. Their main complaints focused on the distribution of public transport subsidies and cuts to the national Remediar medicine program.

The meeting took place in the Municipal Affairs Committee, chaired by lawmaker Carolina Basualdo. Legislators from various political blocs also participated in the session.

“There are 460 million dollars for the Buenos Aires area, against zero pesos for the interior.”

Mayors criticized the concentration of transport subsidies in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. They argued that interior cities must cover service costs with their own resources or pass them on to fares.

Cordoba Mayor Daniel Passerini said there are 460 million dollars for the Buenos Aires area against zero pesos for the interior. He noted that fuel tax revenue is collected nationwide but is not distributed equitably.

Passerini confirmed that mayors are considering taking the dispute to the Supreme Court over alleged noncompliance with federal fuel tax distribution. Rosario Mayor Pablo Javkin called the current policy unjust and unsustainable.

Mayors also rejected the reduction of medicines under the Remediar plan from 129 to 6. They requested payment of a debt that the national retiree health fund owes to municipalities.

A ruling party lawmaker said the dispute over transport subsidies and Remediar should be addressed during the budget debate. He noted there is a deadline before the budget report is issued.