:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/XGUYVAD22RCN3N5SMAAD5LZBRQ.jpeg "Bill seeks to embed austerity measures in congressional spending")
He Congress of the Republic this was again the center of controversy when it was discovered that during each plenary session approximately 25,000 soles were spent on the lunch and dinner of the so-called “Fathers of the Nation”. From the bench Democratic Peru A bill has been introduced to incorporate austerity measures in institutional public spending through an amendment to the Standing Orders of Parliament.
César Acuña questions the Congress buffet: “How is it possible that they have a menu of 80 soles”
The leader of Alianza para el Progreso has joined in the criticism of the high expenses that go to feed parliamentarians.
This is a text presented by the deputy Nieves Limachi Quispe which aims to modify article 33 of the document which governs the internal policies of the legislative power. These are the functions in charge of board of directors such as the management of debates and the management of institutions. It is in this paragraph that we seek to incorporate lines in order to limit the expenses that are made.
“It is up to the Board of Directors to provide, where appropriate, specific austerity and rationality measures to optimize the use of institutional public expenditure with efficiency and transparency; without affecting the provision of public services to Congress”, indicates the legislative initiative of the deputy also signed by Hamlet Echevarría, Luis Kamiche, Betssy Chávez and Guillermo Bermejo.
Although this is a measure that at first glance attracts attention, it is about five new lines in the regulations that do not specify how it will be intended to be austere in congressional spending. . It only mentions the responsibility of the working group in the situation in question. The text only mentions what is indicated in the public sector finance law for the 2023 financial year.
The text presented by the deputy Limachi reflects what was indicated by the Civil Association of Transparency regarding the increase in the budget allocated to Congress for the payroll. “This increased between 2016 and 2021 by 46 people, which implies almost half a million soles per month. This is independent of advisers per member of Congress. It is not austere and lacks a technical basis”, reads the document presented which insists on the application of a principle of administrative rationality.
Members of Congress are now against the S/80 buffet: who and what did they say?
The cost of food increased during the legislature and so a buffet of S/80 was covered, whereas previously the budget was around S/16 per plate
Fourth Power’s complaint about congressmen’s food expenses was also mentioned. This is an expense of around 400,000 soles over the past two months. The payment of 15.93 which was made in the past amounted to 80 soles for each lunch of parliamentarians. These are the only two mentions in defense of the bill introduced last weekend.
Cuarto Poder’s report revealed that the buffet consists of salads (2 options), starters (3 options), main dishes (6 options), side dishes (white rice, Peruvian rice, jardinera rice, glazed sweet potato), dessert ( 4 options), natural fruit drink (2 glasses). This applies both to lunch and to dinner on days when parliamentarians are in plenary session.
‘We have the right to eat delicious’: These are the incredible responses from members of Congress for the 80-sole buffet
After the scandal of the expensive “menu”, paid for with Peruvian state money, several parliamentarians took the floor to defend themselves.
Some members of Congress have been quick to defend approved overspending, such as Patricia Chirinos, who stressed that “they have the right to eat well.” One of the most criticized was Jorge Montoya who questioned whether the quality of his colleagues’ food was in question. “What you are looking for when making a contract is to get the best of the best. They will want us to eat alfalfa for sure,” he replied to the press.