The Executive Branch will introduce two legislative initiatives, as a matter of urgency, if Congress does not reach a consensus to bring general elections forward to 2023, the
President of the Republic Dina Boluarte announced.
Precisely on Monday, the Congress of the Republic will convene to reconsider the bill to approve the advancement of presidential and parliamentary elections.
"Therefore, I want to announce that if there is no consensus among legislators on the request to bring elections forward to 2023, we will immediately submit two legislative initiatives, as matter of urgency, tomorrow (on Monday)," the Head of State said.
The remarks were made on Sunday evening in a televised Address to the Nation.
According to the Head of State, the first initiative proposes debating a constitutional reform so that general elections are inevitably held in 2023.
The first round is likely to be held in October, and the second one, if applicable, in December.
The top dignitary states that these issues imply a constitutional reform to incorporate special transitory provisions in order to regulate the exceptional situation described.
President Boluarte affirmed that said proposal is mainly to shorten the term of office of the President of the Republic, lawmakers, and Andean Parliament representatives elected during the 2021 general elections.
In addition, as a part of this proposal, the Head of State is expected to call general elections for the second Sunday of October this year.
The first bill also specifies that the Congress of the Republic can approve other laws that are necessary to hold the 2023 general elections, until February 28.
Regarding the second proposal, the country's top official noted that the bill is intended to settle once and for all the debate on the reform of the Constitution —an issue that is permanently used by some political forces to undermine any democratic solution to the current situation.
(END) JCR/RMB
Published: 1/30/2023