Original article: «No inventó la rueda»: camioneros le enrostran a Kast que el límite de $20 ya existía y mantienen el paro

Truckers Challenge Kast’s $20 Fuel Price Cap and Continue Nationwide Strike

«He didn’t invent the wheel; it was already done», declared Cristian Sandoval, president of the North Force Transport Confederation, referring to José Antonio Kast’s decision to set a cap on fuel prices, limiting increases for gasoline and diesel to $20 per liter over the next 90 days.

Sandoval pointed out that this limit already existed and confirmed that they will continue the nationwide strike that began at midnight on Tuesday.

«When Minister (of Finance, Jorge) Quiroz took away our 20 pesos, which were the increases we were entitled to,» the union leader reminded.

Following an extensive political committee meeting at La Moneda, President Kast announced he would introduce a bill for immediate discussion to ensure that any increase in gasoline and diesel does not surpass $20 per liter during the next 90 days.

He stated that this represents a «significant fiscal effort, but it will guarantee stability for transporters and for each family in Chile.»

Meanwhile, the President confirmed that on Thursday, November 12, gasoline and diesel will increase by $40 per liter, the minimum technical increase allowed by the Fuel Price Stabilization Mechanism (Mepco).

According to the Ministry of Finance, from August to October, the Mepco had a fiscal impact of 1.1 trillion pesos, with 860 billion allocated to hold down diesel prices.

«We Are Continuing with the Strike»

Sandoval stated that Kast’s decisions came too late and downplayed the significance of the $20 cap per liter. «Regarding diesel, it’s nothing extraordinary: 20 pesos that the Government is going to discount is what they were already supposed to return to us. Nothing more,» he told Cooperativa.

The president of the North Force Transport Confederation made it clear that they will continue to fight «so that the Government can empathize» and that they will maintain the national stoppage based on the uncontrolled rise in fuel prices, the operational limitations of the Fuel Price Stabilization Mechanism (MEPCO), the high TAG fees, and the lack of security on national roads.

«We are continuing with the strike,» he emphasized.

From the Central-South Truck Owners Confederation, which has also been mobilizing since Monday, its president, Freddy Martínez, indicated that Kast’s announcements do not resolve the situation.

«It is insufficient,» he told Emol, confirming that the protests will continue.

«The mobilization remains in place. As of now, it is indefinite,» asserted the leader, challenging how La Moneda has managed the conflict.

«We cannot be communicating with the Government through the press or through a press briefing,» he said.

In his view, there is a need for a direct conversation with the Ministry of Finance to address the issues that truckers are facing.