:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/J77RSCAFKRCSLFQQX7UTSGLSPU.jpg "The expensive “menu” at 190 soles of the Congress: seasonal fruit, cocktail sandwich and six courses")
He Congress of the Republic He is once again in the eye of the storm, but not because of the early elections, but because of the expensive 80-sole buffet that pays for lunch for members of Congress on plenary session days. According to Cuarto Poder’s report, in the last two months the legislature has spent around 400,000 soles.
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Before cost of lunch; consisting of à la carte dishes (10.59 soles), natural juice (1.20 soles), soft drink (1.85 soles), mineral water (1.20 soles), coffee/infusion (0.59 soles); it was 15.93 soles.
However, now the lunch changed to buffet with: salads (2 options), starters (3 options), main dishes (6 options), garnishes (white rice, Peruvian rice, garden rice, glazed sweet potato), dessert (4 options), natural fruit drink (2 glasses ) . All for the price of 80 soleswhich means an expense five times greater than before.
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The addendum to the contract signed by Congress and a concessionaire also changed breakfast. Now a buffet is served which includes natural juice (3 varieties), cocktail sandwich (4 options), salty snacks (2 options), sweet snacks and/or artisan cookies, homemade cake (2 varieties), basket of breads (6 varieties ), cold accessories (avocado, cheese, English ham, olives, tuna and country ham), seasonal fruits (3 varieties), natural yoghurt, cereals, granola, honey, jam and butter. All at the price of 31 soles per person, 8 times more than before, which cost 4.22 soles.
During this time, the cena sideboardwhich now costs 80 soles, includes salads (2 options), starters (3 options), main courses (6 options), sides (white rice, Peruvian rice, Jardinra rice, glazed sweet potato), dessert (4 options), natural fruit drink (2 glasses).
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“There are 4 days left until the end of the legislature, and Congress has the opportunity to help the economy of families,” said lawmaker Digna Calle.
In total, during the plenary sessions, the Congress spends 190 soles per person on food, so in a single day of official activities and events, it means spending 25,000 soles.
Under the terms of the contract, detailed in Fourth power, it is stated that “this service is intended exclusively for members of Congress when performing their parliamentary work in the Legislative Building for the attention of national and international official events and protocols. These attentions and amounts must have the authorization of the Presidency and/or the Cabinet of the Mayor of the Congress of the Republic and will be covered by the budget of the Pliego Congreso de la República.
Additionally, the contract duly details portions, types of toppings, and that the foods should be of the highest quality such as beef and pork, chicken, or fat-free, nerve-free pulp.
“Since December, this addendum has been signed, 18 plenary sessions have taken place and in just two months, approximately 444,000 soles have been spent on food,” the report says.
The Chief Officer of Parliament, Jose Cevascopointed out that “Congress decides to return to the buffet policy which goes back several years from the year 2000. “In the contract, it is stipulated that the administration can carry out market studies on food and buffets and on this basis, prices are readjusted. It wouldn’t be strange for a report to say that these sideboards are no longer worth 80 soles, but 60″.
“There is a reality in Congress. We have to have every contingency ready for the sessions which are very long”he pointed.
Cevasco clarified that there was no buffet breakfast, but that “it is foreseen in the contract as a possibility, but at the moment there is none”.
“MPs pay for their food on days when there is no plenary. The discounts vary between two thousand and three thousand soles among members of Congress who pay with a reduction on the payroll”, he said, adding that “food in the board of directors, in the commissions, in the council of administration, does not exist”, he underlined. .
With regard to breakfast, the senior officer indicated that the the list price is 8 soles and that for dinner is 21 soles.
“The message is jealous of the food not only of parliamentarians, but of their employees and visitors. When the contract says he has to be in good condition, of course he has to be, because we don’t want to get sick”.