With 54 votes in favor, the plenary session of Parliament did not approve the substitute text of bills 1897, 1918, and others, regarding the constitutional reform for the advance of the elections.

Photo: Congress of Peru / Twitter

The Peruvian Congress

rejected on Wednesday the bill that contemplated holding "complementary" general elections for December 2023

, with the aim that the new authorities take office in May 2024.

With 54 votes in favor, the plenary session of Parliament did not approve the substitute text of bills 1897, 1918, and others, regarding the constitutional reform for the advance of the elections.

The initiative was presented by the president of the Constitution Commission, Hernando Guerra-García.

Although the project established an advance of the elections at the end of this year, the elected authorities, both in the Executive and in Congress, would complete the period 2021-2026.

After the rejection of the majority, the legislature began a new vote to include in the debate the minority opinion of Peru Libre, which proposed elections in 120 days and consultation for a constituent assembly.

The point of order was also rejected by 58 votes against, 52 in favor and two abstentions, as announced by the president of Congress, José Williams Zapata.

Subsequently, the session was suspended until this Thursday at 10:00 in the morning (local time).

With 54 votes in favor, the #PlenaryOfCongress did not approve the replacement text of bills 1897, 1918, and others, regarding the constitutional reform for the advancement of complementary general elections in December 2023. pic.twitter.com/kzcfrRSU9Y

– Congress of Peru 🇵🇪 (@congresoperu) February 1, 2023

The Peruvian Congress resumed this Wednesday the debate for the advancement of elections after successive postponements since the start of the session last Friday, due to a lack of consensus between the different benches.

Parliament had debated the issue last Friday and it was rejected with 65 votes against, 45 in favor and two abstentions, despite the demands of the public.

On Monday he decided to suspend the discussion to vote on Tuesday "a new substitute text", which would finally be voted on today.

The delays have accentuated the climate of tension in the streets, in the midst of a serious political, social and economic crisis.

The massive protests, which are daily, demand the resignation of interim president Dina Boluarte, the closure of Congress, general elections and a Constituent Assembly.

The protesters also demand the release of the ousted former president Pedro Castillo and justice for the almost 60 people who have died in the protests, strongly repressed by the Police and the Army.

The advance of the elections to 2023 is one of the main claims of the protesters against the Government of Dina Boluarte.

In December, Congress had approved bringing the elections forward to April 2024, but the persistence of the protests forced Boluarte to demand that the Legislature review that decision.

The protesters, mostly from the regions, reject the parliamentary process that culminated in the removal of former President Pedro Castillo, and his subsequent arrest for alleged rebellion and conspiracy, on December 7, 2022.

Previously, the president had announced, although not formalized, the closure of Congress, after denouncing that the parliamentarians sought to "destroy the Executive" and install a "congressional dictatorship", through constant complaints against the president who, according to what he explained, were not they had no foundation.

(Taken from RT in Spanish)  

See also:

Peru: Judiciary declares Castillo's appeal to annul the process against him unfounded