Popular Renewal rejects Pedro Castillo's project before referendum: “He has demonstrated his inability to govern”

The Popular Renewal Bank rejected the bill announced by the president Pedro Castillo on a referendum to consult citizens whether or not they agree on the viability or not of a new Political Constitution of Peru.

Through a statement, the spokesman of the political party, Jorge Montoya, specified that they will not accept or support the initiative due to “lack of capacity of the president”.

“We strongly reject the announcement by the President of the Republic, Pedro Castillo Terrones, to present a bill that proposes the possibility of a referendum on the convening of a Constituent Assembly,” he said.

“According to Article 206 of the Political Constitution of Peru, it is held that any constitutional reform must be approved by Congress with an absolute majority of the legal number of its members, and ratified by referendum, otherwise it would be a flagrant violation of our constitutional order,” he added.

We strongly reject the announcement by the President of the Republic, Pedro Castillo Terrones, to present a bill that proposes the possibility of a referendum on the convening of a Constituent Assembly,” he said.

“According to Article 206 of the Political Constitution of Peru, it is held that any constitutional reform must be approved by Congress with an absolute majority of the legal number of its members, and ratified by referendum, otherwise it would be a flagrant violation of our constitutional order,” he added.

As is recalled, Castillo Terrones said last Friday that it will submit a bill to Congress for the 2022 Regional and Municipal Elections to consult citizens in a referendum to determine whether the country agrees with a new Constitution.

“I must announce that we are going to send a bill to the Congress of the Republic, 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 can be consulted whether or not they agree with a new Constitution”, expressed.

“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 president.

WHAT IS THIS BILL ABOUT?

The Peru-Libre bank presented a bill to allow the President of the Republic to call for election of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new Constitution.

Project 1744/2021-CR was prepared by Congresswoman Margot Palacios and calls for the election of 300 popular representatives. In addition, it is proposed that the same power be granted to the Congress of the Republic.

“The Peruvian population is almost twice that of the Chilean population. If we take as a reference that the Chilean constituent has 155 representatives for 17.6 million inhabitants; 33 million inhabitants of Peru would correspond to a number of 300 representatives, in terms of rounding,” the autograph reads.

According to the autograph, this Constituent Assembly will be made up of 300 representatives: 50% men and 50% women.

Other percentages were also proposed for specific groups: 25% representing indigenous peoples; 5% of the Afro-Peruvian population; 10% of social and popular organizations; 10% of workers, trade unions, peasants and farmers; 10% of youth organizations; 5% of organizations of young people; 5% of organizations of businessmen and entrepreneurs; 5% of professional organizations; and 30% of political parties.

“At the beginning of the term of office, we put on the table from parties of the Congress of the Republic, among other bills, a proposal aimed at the massification of Camisea gas and I ask Parliament to put it on the agenda for discussion,” the president said when he announced this bill.

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