Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola on Monday affirmed that the Executive Branch is confident that Congress will propose a way out regarding the initiative to bring general elections forward to 2023.
During a plenary session on Monday, the Congress of the Republic approved —by majority vote— the reconsideration of bills 1897, 1918, among others, regarding the constitutional reform to bring general elections forward to 2023.
As is known, President Dina Boluarte on Sunday announced that if early elections were not approved, the Executive Branch would introduce a bill so that they can be held in October this year and, if a second round was held, this would occur in December 2023.
"Like all Peruvians, we are waiting for this decision (on early elections) in a democratic manner, on the understanding that all democratic parliamentary groups in Congress will debate, and I am sure they have a strong sense of urgency about the situation in the country," the Cabinet chief told the press.
Moreover, regarding the second bill announced by President Boluarte, referring to the total reform of the Constitution, Otarola noted that the initiative states that any change should be made through the Constitution Commission of the next Congress.
"(The bill) does not take the possibility of a Constituent Assembly into account under any circumstances," the government official said.
The head of the Ministerial Cabinet emphasized that the proposal has not been formally approved by the Council of Ministers, as it is receiving feedback from all State ministers.
"The Government of President Dina Boluarte will always work for the poorest, for the underprivileged, but it will also respect the country's macroeconomic stability and will ensure that economic rules remain stable, under the model that has allowed Peru to be successful and a leader in Latin America," he stated.
(END) MRCA/JCR/RMB
Published: 1/30/2023