Dina Boluarte assures that she will again send a new bill to parliament and ensures that the responsibility of approving the anticipation of the elections falls solely and exclusively on Congress.
The President of Peru announced that she will send a new bill to Congress to propose the anticipation of the general elections to October, in the event that Parliament rejects the Government’s request again this Monday.
“The responsibility of approving the anticipation of early elections for this year corresponds solely and exclusively to Congress,” stressed Dina Boluarte, in a message broadcast on television this Sunday.
If parliament does not reach a consensus, the executive “will immediately present two legislative initiatives as a matter of urgency,” one to advance the elections and another to proceed with the comprehensive reform of the current Peruvian Constitution, said the head of state.
The Peruvian Congress rejected on Friday, after more than eight hours of debate, with 45 votes in favor, 65 against and two abstentions, the government’s proposal.
Protests in Peru. Lima registers first death after rejection of early elections
The bill proposed incorporating special transitional provisions for the general elections to be held in October, with a possible presidential runoff in December.
Boluarte regretted that in parliament, “nothing concrete was achieved in a sterile debate“, in addition to the approval of a request for reconsideration, which will be discussed, starting at 10:00 a.m. (3:00 p.m. in Lisbon) and which implies a new vote.
Peru faces aspiral of violence” due to anti-government protests that have claimed the lives of 65 people since Decemberin which “the police are being attacked at point blank range by an organized group that wants to sow chaos, hatred among all Peruvians,” accused the President.
“The authorities have the duty to protect all Peruvians, this responsibility does not exempt Congress,” said the head of state.
Boluarte added that a new Constitution, after being approved by Parliament, will be submitted to a referendum “so that the people decide whether to accept it or not.”
The immediate call for elections to a constituent assembly and the dismissal of Boluarte are among the main demands of the protestersof the poorest areas of the country.
The protesters also demand the dissolution of Congress and the punishment of the police and military involved in the bloody repression of the protests and the release of former President Pedro Castillo, accused of promoting a constitutional “coup” and in pretrial detention from the beginning. starting in December.
The political crisis that is shaking Peru is also a reflection of the huge gap between Lima, the capital, and the poor provinces that support Castillo, of Amerindian origin.
Source: Observadora
