Defender, Comptroller and justice: topics on ALP's 2022 agenda

Juan Pérez Munguía / La Paz

The pending issues of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP) for this 2022 are the election of the heads of the Ombudsman’s Office and the General State Comptroller’s Office, in addition to the judicial reform, parliamentarians of the ruling party and the opposition coincide.

On January 30, the Ombudsman, Nadia Cruz, will serve three years as interim in office. Article 5, subsection e, of the Public Official Statute Law establishes that an internship should not exceed three months.

In April 2016 was the last call for the election of a head of the Ombudsman’s Office. Article 219 of the Constitution states that the defender can only exercise his functions for a period of six years.

In July of this 2022, the comptroller Henry Ará will fulfill his management in the institution. Section 216 of the Magna Carta specifies that six years is the maximum time for an authority to remain in this position.

Both the Ombudsman and the Comptroller are elected in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly by two thirds, which the Movement Towards Socialism does not reach in the current legislation.

Consulted by Página Siete, the official senator Félix Ajpi indicated that both the Ombudsman’s Office and the Comptroller’s Office should be elected proven authorities. He considered that the opposition should support the election of these positions, for which, he said, talks will be held so that there are no obstacles during the processes.

“We should have elected the Ombudsman in the last quarter of 2021. He will do it this year. Also in 2020, a new Controller must be elected. We will coordinate with all the political forces of the Legislature, we have to have two thirds to elect these authorities, ”Ajpi indicated.

For her part, Creemos deputy Marioly Morón stated that her bench will propose a responsible dialogue so that these new authorities can be appointed.

He explained that those who are elected must be professionals who do not respond to any political party.

“The guarantee that honest men or women are qualified and appointed according to the professional and experience requirements for these positions will depend on making two-thirds viable in the Legislative Assembly. If the MAS intended otherwise, it will not have the possibility of the thirds, “he said.

CC Senator Rodrigo Paz expressed his susceptibility that the MAS intends to make a convocation to elect Defender and Comptroller.

“In the General Budget of the State, resources are guaranteed so that the interns in State institutions continue to operate. But if the calls are given, we will fulfill our responsibility ”, he indicated.

Judicial reform and other issues

Apji noted that judicial reform is another issue that must be resolved this year. He explained that different sectors of the population must participate in this process to appoint new judicial administrators at the service of the population.

“There no longer have to be artisans of the law as up to now. There must be a Judicial Body with clarity, objectivity and impartiality. Administrators of justice must know the science of law, they must be capable and committed professionals, ”he stressed.

Paz stated that the judicial reform at the moment is only a speech and that a bill has already entered the Legislature so that President Luis Arce can appoint the director of the School of Judges. “This is part of the government’s agenda that is destined to control justice and society,” he emphasized.

For his part, Morón observed that in the Assembly there is no correct treatment in the normative plans, because there is no proper socialization. “In the necessary socialization process, it must be foreseen that no one violates or threatens the constitutional guarantees or that they are detrimental to the country, for that we will activate the constitutional controls and resources provided,” he added.

Another issues that Parliament will promote is coordination with the Executive for economic reactivation, return to face-to-face classes and the management of the pandemic.

According to the parliamentarians, the promotion of the Military High Command will also be discussed, which could not take place last December, as planned, because the MAS did not obtain two-thirds of the Senate to hold a reserve session.

MAS requires 111 votes for 2/3

The Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP) is made up of 130 deputies and 36 senators. The Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) requires 111 votes to obtain two-thirds in Parliament, in the event that all members are present.

The MAS currently has 75 deputies and 21 senators. Therefore, it would lack the support of three members of the opposition in the Upper House and 12 at the request of the Lower House.

The ruling party has added seven opposition deputies to its ranks so far: Edwin Rosas and Keyla Ortiz, from the Citizen Community (CC), and Sandra Paz, Runny Callaú, Tito Caero, Omar Rueda and José Luis Durán, from Creemos.

In this management, the Legislative Assembly must elect the new Ombudsman and the State Comptroller General, for which it is a requirement that the designation be approved by a two-thirds vote, both of senators and deputies.