Andina

Peru: President enacts reform bill on Constitutional Court members election

14:04 | Lima, Jul. 22.

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra enacted three political reform bills involving the merit-based election of Constitutional Court magistrates, gender equality and alternation in the lists of candidates, as well as the creation of an electoral district for Peruvian citizens living abroad.

Within this framework, the Head of State highlighted the Congress' work to pass these bills, in order to strengthen the political system.

The top official noted that the three bills approved by Congress —which will be published on Thursday in El Peruano official gazette— are very important because they are part of the political reform promoted by the Executive Branch.

"When we witness this coincidence, we cannot stop feeling satisfied since the Legislative and Executive Branches work towards the same goal and path," he expressed.

When endorsing the regulation —which amends the Organic Law on the Constitutional Court (TC)— the President recalled that, in September last year, the previous Congress attempted to follow procedures that the population rejected in order to elect magistrates at said Court, which is the supreme interpreter of the Constitution.

For this reason, he said, the Executive Branch introduced a confidence motion, which was rejected and led to the constitutional dissolution of the Parliament.

In this sense, the statesman said that the law approved by the current Parliament considers meritocracy so that the TC can be made up of "suitable persons of impeccable reputation" via a merit-based public examination process.

Regarding the law that modifies the electoral legislation to guarantee gender equality and alternation in the lists of candidates, the Peruvian leader stated that this was demanded by the Government so that women not only have the right, but the opportunity to hold positions of all sorts and be elected for popular election posts.

The third bill modifies the Organic Law on Elections to establish the constituency of Peruvian voters abroad. In this regard, he stressed that around one million compatriots vote in different elections organized in the country.

Remarks were made during a press conference led by the President at the Government Palace in Lima.

(END) RMCH/RMB/MVB

Published: 7/22/2020