The plenary of the Convention put an end to the existence of the Senate, and approved the body that would replace it: a “Chamber of Regions”. The details of the Legislative Power continue to generate tensions in the constituent body, since although progress has been made towards “bicameralism”, these entities do not have attributions.
A long session was held on Wednesday at the Convention, which lasted from 09:30 am to midnight.
The plenary session of the constituent body approved a large part of the regulations of the Executive Power, but this fate was not experienced by the Legislature.
Once again, the design on the National Congress was positioned as the point that generated the greatest tension among the conventional ones.
The report that the plenary voted on was drafted after an agreement reached by the left, where it raised a toned down presidentialism -which was respected- and a asymmetric bicameralism.
The elimination of the Senate
Finally, an article was approved that contemplates the concept of Congress of Deputies and Deputies, that it would have a supervisory role, although its attributions are not yet defined.
Thus, the vote on the “second instance” proceeded. approved the creation of a Chamber of the Regions, that will accompany the Congress.
In this way, the elimination of the Senate, which was celebrated by a large part of those who signed the agreement.
In this regard, the conventional FA Constanza Schonhaut referred.
There were no votes to approve the powers of the Chamber of Regions
It was a long session, where the crucial moment was experienced at the start of the voting, around 3:30 p.m., when the conventionalists spoke out regarding the article 28, a key point.
The norm established the attributions of the Camera of the Regions, that is to say, the one that will replace the Senate.
However, it was rejected by very few votes. Some INN constituents abstained or rejected, while the conventional CS Patrick Fernandez, decided to vote against.
This took the FA and the PC by surprise, who thought it would be approved. A single vote was missing, and some constituents were unable to connect to the online voting system.
PC accused external pressures to avoid eliminating Senate
From that unexpected moment, it is that other attributions, such as article 7, which raised the powers of the Congress of Deputies and Deputies, began to be rejected – with votes against more conventional ones from the PS and the Non-Neutrals.
The conventional of Marcos Barraza He was adamant that the chamber that will replace the Senate must have minority powers.
In this sense, he again accused external pressures.
INN unmarked themselves from controversial voting
Pedro Muñoz He recognized that the proposal for asymmetric bicameralism did not satisfy everyone, and that it is necessary to strengthen the Chamber of the Regions.
That yes, the conventional socialist emphasized that it is not sought to preserve the Senate.
The constituent of INN, Patricia Politzer, Meanwhile, he explained what happened with his group, where, as he said, being independent, they do not respond to party orders.
Along these lines, she distanced herself from the fact that some conventional members of her sector have voted against the agreement that she, together with her peer, Guillermo Namor -both from the commission- signed.
Government describes the vote as “paradoxical”: UDI criticized La Moneda
The Executive ruled on this matter, and in the voice of the Minister of the Segpres, Giorgio Jackson, they were hopeful that the talks will eventually feature white smoke.
Of course, he acknowledged that yesterday’s vote was “paradoxical.”
The long faces were immediate in the Senate itself.
The President of the Upper House, Álvaro Elizalde, questioned the way in which the report was voted, while from the right they aimed their darts against the Government.
The head of the UDI bench, Senator Ivan Moreira, He accused that this vote favors the Government, since they do not have a majority in the Senate.
From the Communist Party and the Broad Front they pointed directly to the PS, especially after the unexpected vote on article 28, where several conventional, which was connected electronically, could not vote.