Colombia’s president of the Senate, Juan Manuel Corzo, defended the project that revived the provision of gasoline subsidies for members of Congress and assures W Radio that with his $11,500 monthly salary it is “physically and economically” impossible to sustain two cars.
“We make a lot less than some business persons, our net salary a month is [$11,500]. Some of us have a house here and somewhere else… we do a lot of social service and it is impossible, with our salary, to pay for the gasoline for two cars,” the official asserted.
The Senate president went on to argue that the idea of the subsidies couldn’t possibly be corrupt because they are not handled through contracts. In response to the criticism that Colombians were paying out of pocket to put gasoline in the tanks of legislators, Corzo said “this debate is not worth it. We are the leaders of public power in Colombia, let us have some dignity on the subject.”
Corzo added, “I have only one car and I have to put three or four bodyguards in there because I don’t have a way to pay for gas for two cars. I say this with sincerity.”