“We urge the benches to put down their partisan and group interests and place the interests of Peru above”, in this way the Presidency of Peru regretted that Congress did not support bringing forward the country’s general elections and thus being able to face the political crisis And social.
With a direct summons to Congress to “place the interests” of the country above, the Peruvian government regretted that sufficient votes were not obtained to advance the general elections to October.
All this in the midst of the social and political crisis that has left 64 dead since December in the Andean nation.
“We regret that the Congress of the Republic has not been able to agree to define the date of the general elections where Peruvians can freely and democratically elect the new authorities“, said the Peruvian Presidency in a message posted on Twitter.
We urge the benches to put down their partisan and group interests and place the interests of Peru above. Our citizens promptly await a clear response that will pave a way out of the political crisis and build social peace (2/2).
– Presidency of Peru ???????? (@presidenciaperu) January 28, 2023
The Peruvian Parliament refused this Friday to advance the general elections to October, after debating a project in this regard for more than 8 hours, after which the president of Congress, José Williams, reported that a request for reconsideration had been raised will discuss on Monday to determine if the proposal is voted on again.
In this sense, the Executive urged this Saturday the benches “to lay down their partisan and group interests and place the interests of Peru above” to modify that decision.
“Our citizens are waiting promptly for a clear answer that will allow pave a way out of the political crisis and build social peace”he emphasized.
Advance elections to get out of political crisis
The project to advance the general elections was raised by the president of the Constitution Commission, the Fujimorista Hernando Guerra García but, after 8 intense hours of debate, received only 45 votes in favor when it had to have at least the favorable vote of 87 parliamentarians, since it was a constitutional reform.
During the debate, Guerra García maintained that the advance in the date of the elections was “a necessity” to “give relief” to his country “and to the citizens”, in reference to the anti-government demonstrations that began in December.
His proposal proposed that special transitory provisions be incorporated so that the general elections are held in October 2023 and the new Congress assumes its functions on December 31 and the new Government on January 1, 2024.
The next Executive and Legislative would fulfill their functions, exceptionally, until July 2029, six months more than the five years established in the Constitution, with the aim of resuming in the subsequent period the inauguration on the traditional July 28, date of national independence.
Before the start of the debate on Friday, President Dina Boluarte urged Congress to approve the electoral advance as a measure to get out of the crisis and in response to one of the main demands of the anti-government protests, which also demand his resignation, the closure of Congress and the call for a constituent assembly.
To date, according to data from the Ombudsman’s Office, 46 people who participated in the protests died in clashes with the security forces, while a policeman died after being burned alive by protesters.
Added to these victims are 11 deaths in events related to roadblocks and one death that occurred in the northern region of La Libertad, confirmed by the Police.
Likewise, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Acnur) reported the death of four Haitians who could not receive medical assistance due to roadblocks, in addition to an unborn baby confirmed by Unicef, resulting in 64 deaths. for the protests since December 11.