:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/SQIPW4BN2XXZHBI76XX7HRPCZQ.jpg "Congress quintupled spending to feed every parliamentarian")
In December 2022, at Congress, an amendment was signed to increase the cost of food for each parliamentarian, so that each dish was increased from S/15.93 to S/80. If we add the expenses for breakfast and dinner, the state, with the money of all Peruvians, would spend 190 S/s on food for each member of Congress, according to a survey conducted by Cuarto Poder.
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The initiative aims to prevent those involved in various crimes from applying for or holding public office.
In this sense, in a single day, the Legislative authority spends nearly S/25,000 on food for each parliamentarian.
Expenditure quintupled in February 2022, after the signature of an addendum modifying the contract n° 014-2022-AAJ-OLCC-CR for an amount of S/ 2 million 037 thousand 537. Thus, concessionaires were hired for the canteens and the cafeteria of the Parliament. In addition, with the new agreement, it is spent on staff who provide buffets at ceremonial events in Congress.
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Congressman Luis Aragón presented the legislative initiative to the Constitution and Regulations Commission with the support of the Popular Action bench
Before this change, each dish on the dining room menu cost 10.59 S/s and could be paid five soles more if an infusion, soda or mineral water was added. Now the price of each food it costs S/80 and what is on offer is two types of salads, three starter options, six different main courses, side dishes, a dessert and two glasses of natural fruit soda. Each breakfast also costs S/31 per congressman; As for dinner, another S/80 per person is spent.
Congressmen Waldemar Cerrón (Perú Libre), Patricia Chirinos (Avanza País) and Kelly Portalatino (Perú Libre) defended the new amendment signed by the board of directorschaired by Congressman José Williams Zapata.
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Eduardo Pashas denounced a violation of the right to defense of his godfather, however, the head of the SAC reaffirmed that he had been summoned beforehand and that the Parliament does not handle the said request.
When asked if he agreed with the high expenses for feed by the deputy, Cerron He replied that the decision had been taken by José Williams and that he was indifferent because sometimes he had lunch outside Parliament.
“It should be board policy. I don’t give it much importance because sometimes I have lunch out and eating is not an unnecessary expense,” he said.
the deputy Chirinos also defended the increased spending of feed. He stressed that “whoever wants to eat must eat, all Peruvians have the right to eat delicious food”.
Portalatino, from the same bank of Waldemar Cerronreplied that there was no reason to object to spending S/80 per meal for each member of Congress.
“If it’s the board’s decision, who am I to oppose,” he replied.
Last Friday, February 17, the Congresswith 69 votes for, 35 against and 7 abstentions, refused to debate an extension of the sessions to discuss the progress of the elections and thus respond to the demand of 70% of Peruvians: to elect new representatives in October 2023.
To specify this requirement, it is necessary that the members of Congress approve in two legislatureswith the votes of at least 87 of the 130 parliamentarians.
With the new decision, the proposal to bring forward the elections can be debated next March and, if approved there, preparations for the elections could only begin in August. rallies.
An Ipsos Apoyo survey revealed that only 22% of Peruvians want to elect new representatives in 2024 and 7% want current President Dina Boluarte and parliamentarians to finish their efforts and it is not until 2026, with their departure, that they new elections.