Jaime Nebot. Photo: ANDES.
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa singled out opposition politician Jaime Nebot, who has been calling for protests against the government, as a clear example of the progress the country has made with respect to the collection of taxes.
Correa came to power in 2007. He said in 2006, Nebot paid just US$1994 in income taxes, but by last year the opposition leader was paying US$66,593.
Correa attributed this change to the improved tax collection mechanisms implemented by his government, which form part of a broader effort to combat inequality.
Correa has accused Nebot of calling for protests out of self interest. The opposition mayor admitted in an interview on CNN that he would be among the richest 2% of Ecuadoreans that would be impacted by the proposed inheritance tax law.
[Abridged from TeleSUR English.]
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