Why is it so difficult to call new elections in Peru?

Despite the enlargement of the ordinary legislature, once again the members of congress did not reach a consensus to approve a advancement of the elections to 2023 and appease the political and social crisis which has claimed more than 50 lives and generated since December 2022 and which has 70% Peruvians, According to the Ipsos Peru national survey, asks to be done General elections This year.

On the last day of the ordinary legislature, the Plenary Assembly decided that the Constitution and Standing Orders Committee would reopen the debate on the legislative elections, depending on whether or not bills on the matter were presented.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Jose Williams Zapata indicated that what will be considered is the possibility that the bills debated on the early elections go to the Constitutional Commission in this annual period of sessions, which ends in July, so that a bill which enters Complete.

“This bill needs to be done, changed and everything in the commission,” he said. Williams Zapata.

Thus, the advancement of the elections has once again been put on hold and the possibility of it being held this year seems very remote.

The constitutional jurist and professor at the University of Piura (UDEP), carlos hakanssonspeak with GlobeLiveMedia Peru and explained why it would be so hard to call new elections in Peru.

“The fragmentation of the Congress into more than ten chambers, the individualism and the lack of cohesion between them, added to the lack of experience of the congressmen due to their non-immediate re-election complicate the agreements for the advancement of the elections. However, I consider it a reckless move in the midst of a crisis of authority and a convulsive environment,” he said.

He also clarified that although the executive and legislative mandate and the ordinary democratic succession are every five years by constitutional provision, “any advancement must be subject to reform by the approval of a new final and transitional provision. ” of Congress.

For the change of command to take place on a date other than July, as provided for in the constitution, Hakansson pointed out that this change “also involves reform through a definitive and transitional provision, but abusing these ‘exits’ produces a bad record in a country in institutional fragility,” he warned.

So while the Congress disagree and the special interests of the ten seats persist that, even if they do not vote in a homogeneous way, the constitutional reforms will not reach enough votes for their approval and the advancement of the elections will not be able to proceed. shape.

With approval in Complete which allows the reform for the advancement of the legislative elections to be discussed again in committee Constitutionnow this working group can take up the ideas expressed in previous opinions on the advancement of the elections: such as the one which proposes that they take place in 2024 or that the new elected government only lasts until July 2026.

He constitutionalist Erick Urbina explained to Trade that the issue could be discussed between March and July and that it is only in the next legislature (which begins in July) that it could be the second vote for the reform to be approved.

Urbina considers it very difficult for the new elections to be held in 2023. He said another possibility is to roll out the legislature so that the one that starts in March ends in May and that month starts another legislature until July.

“In this way, the vote would take place in two legislatures Constitutional reform and so we could get to elections in December,” Urbina said.

Another possibility is an extension of the legislature until March, although this has already been extended several times for the discussion of early elections.

It should be noted that to shorten a presidential and congressional term, a constitutional reform must be approved in two votes of 87 votes in two consecutive legislatures. The other way is that the reform is approved by 66 votes and that the ratification is done by referendum.