The UN wants to pass the bill to the rich | Ask …

Global awareness of the need for a tribute to great fortunes to help alleviate the economic crisis derived from COVID 19 is growing rapidly among power organizations. The United Nations (UN), expressed its willingness to set up a “solidarity tax”, in line with the favorable positions that the United States and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had set for themselves. At the same time, the agency also called for “suspension and relief” of debts in the face of the crisis caused by the situation in some countries.

The person responsible for leaving the message was UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who urged countries to establish a “solidarity tax”, noting that the world’s wealthiest people have seen their wealth increase by $ 5 trillion during the pandemic, and have increased demand for more equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

“I urge governments to consider the possibility of applying a solidarity or wealth tax to those who benefited from it during the pandemic, in order to reduce extreme inequalities ”, declared the UN Director General during a speech at the Forum of the Economic and Social Council on financing for development, the agency reported today.

A few days ago during the Spring Days of the IMF and the World Bank, the Director of the Treasury of the United States, Janet Yellen, approved that a one-time bonus be charged to the rich, as a method of equalizing opportunities. into the pandemic. Later, it was the Fund itself that advocated policies in this regard. Argentina appears at the forefront of the question, since it voted for months the rule of the solidarity contribution of great fortunes, which is already being collected by the Treasury.

Solidarity with debtors

In connection with the crisis that is causing debt in many countries, Guterres proposed its suspension and relief, as well as the provision of liquidity to countries that need it. “But we must go beyond its relief,” Guterres continued, calling for strengthening “the architecture of international debt to end the deadly cycles of debt waves, global debt crises and lost decades. “.

Another priority action he proposes is to invest in a new social contract, based on solidarity and investments in education, decent and green jobs, social protection and health systems which will form “the basis of ‘sustainable and inclusive development’.

“This Forum must provide ambition and momentum, to finance a resilient, inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for all,” said the Secretary-General. “A paradigm shift is needed to align the private sector with global goals to face future challenges, including those caused by the coronavirus,” he added.

In addition, he called for closing the funding gap of the Covax mechanism, which enjoys UN support, and seeks to inject two billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine to a quarter of the population of the poorest countries in the world. ‘by the end of 2021. “To end the pandemic once and for all, we need equitable access to vaccines for everyone, everywhere,” he said.