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Peru PM presents new bill on parliamentary immunity

14:56 | Lima, Jun. 4.

Prime Minister Salvador del Solar on Tuesday submitted a new bill to regulate the parliamentary immunity in order to prevent this power from being used as an impunity mechanism by some Congress members.

According to the high-ranking official, this initiative "does not seek to eliminate the immunity that protects lawmakers."

However, he indicated it must be modified in order to prevent cases, such as former Congressman Edwin Donayre's —who evaded and escaped justice— from happening.

"Since the bill on parliamentary immunity was shelved, we —as the Executive Branch— insist and submit another legislative initiative to regulate the parliamentary immunity," Del Solar expressed.

In this sense, he affirmed Peruvian citizens do not want more lawmakers using immunity as impunity.

He also urged Congress members to "show clear signs that politicians do not wear crowns and that we must be held accountable before justice when necessary."

"It (the bill) proposes that the decision to lift the immunity, of those who commit common crimes, should be made by an autonomous body, unrelated to political calculations, which bases its decisions on impartial and independent criteria," the official added.

Remarks were made during Parliament's plenary session to address the confidence motion submitted by the Executive Branch days ago.

Confidence motion

Last week, President Martin Vizcarra announced his administration's decision to introduce a confidence motion to Congress regarding State policies aimed at strengthening institutions and fighting corruption in the Inca country, as included in the political reform bills submitted to Parliament.

Via this mechanism, a State Minister —on an individual basis— or the Prime Minister —on behalf of the Cabinet— can ask Congress for a vote of confidence regarding a law or government initiative, according to articles 132 and 133 of the Constitution.

Under article 133 of the Constitution, the denial of the confidence leads to a total crisis in the Cabinet.

Article 134 of the Constitution states that the President of the Republic has the power to close Congress if the latter has passed the motion of censure or denied the vote of confidence to two Cabinets.

As is known, the current Congress had already granted a no-confidence vote to a former Cabinet in September 2017. At that time, Mr. Vizcarra was serving as Vice-President.

"No queremos más injusticia, no queremos más impunidad y no queremos más corrupción en la política. Por eso creemos que corresponde al Ejecutivo presentar esta #CuestiónDeConfianza ante el @congresoperu", @saldelsol. #ReformaPolíticaYa pic.twitter.com/aRy5INQoUW
— Consejo de Ministros (@pcmperu) 4 de junio de 2019

(END) JCC/CCR/DTK/MVB

Published: 6/4/2019

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Peru PM presents new bill on parliamentary immunity

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