President Castillo has once again awakened one of the most heated and extensive debates in recent years: the possibility of calling a Constituent Assembly to replace the Constitution published in 1993. Since the announcement of the future submission of a bill, various positions have been announced on the measure, but various doubts have also been raised about the procedure to be followed. In this regard, the Minister of Culture, Alejandro Salas, has tried to clear up some doubts.
“Everything will be in the hands of Congress. No one should be frightened when it is the country's voters who will have to decide what they want,” he said through his social media accounts where he assured that the proposal to be presented by the Executive Branch “will be based on rules that constitutionally govern democracy.” However, given the positions announced during the last few hours, it is believed that the draft to be presented will not reach beyond the Constitution Commission, working team to propose to the plenary session projects related to the subject.
“If not everything wins remains the same and the Constitution of 93 is not changed. If Yes wins, elections will only be called to choose who will make up the Constituent Assembly so that the elected will draft a new Constitution under democratic rules,” he explained. For his part, President Pedro Castillo said that the consultation would take place on the same day that the regional and municipal elections scheduled for October of this year are held. It should be noted that this would not be the first time that consultations have been combined on the same date. In a recent election, there was a consultation on the return of money to Fonavi contributors.
CRISPADO ANNOUNCEMENT
“I must announce that we are going to send a bill to the Congress of the Republic,” were the first words used by Pedro Castillo to make it known that he intended to launch one of his campaign promises. “Following the constitutional course, so that in these upcoming municipal and regional elections Congress will approve this bill so that through a charter the Peruvian people will be consulted whether or not they agree with a new Constitution,” he added.
The announcement was made from Cusco during the Sixth Decentralized Council of Ministers. “It is true that the Congress of the Republic has this power in its hands, we will send that bill that we will work on it immediately,” added the head of state. The president's approach takes into account the day of the regional and municipal elections for holding the popular consultation. This would not be the first time this has happened, since in a recent election of the same type the population was consulted on the return of money to Fonavi pensioners.
“A new Constitution is a legitimate demand of broad sectors of the country and a necessity evidenced by the deep and multiple crisis we are going through. We know that the president is now proposing a referendum on this matter more as a “lifesaver” than by conviction” was the pronouncement by former presidential candidate Verónika Mendoza on the announcement made by Pedro Castillo.
“And we know that Congress is going to do everything impossible to block it, which is why it is essential that this debate is not hijacked “on high” but that citizens get involved, that the forces of change are mobilized,” he warned of the parliament's response that is already being seen in the published pronouncements.
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