Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Congressional representatives in Peru are to discuss, debate and vote on a series of constitutional changes throughout this week.

Among the topics to be discussed is whether members of congress will be fired if they do not have a valid excuse for not attending congressional sessions.

On Monday evening, the Congressional Constitution Commission approved a bill that proposes to punish legislators that do not show up for plenary sessions.

If the bill is signed into law, representatives that are absent to six plenary sessions will be removed from their position as lawmakers.

The bill was approved by the Constitution Commission with six votes in favor, two against and two abstentions.

"This is a positive measure," said the President of Congress Luis Gonzales Posada, explaining that the new law would ensure that the majority of lawmakers were present during congressional sessions.

Furthermore, there are representatives that have asked that the bill apply to all meetings and not just plenary sessions.

There will now be seven reasons for not being able to continue serving as a congressional representative in Peru.

Among them is death, resigning, being sentenced to prison time and the most recent, missing six plenary sessions of congress and not being able to provide a valid excuse.