The congressman Guido Bellido joins the Podemos Peru bench. The parliamentarian accepted the invitation made by José Luna, president and spokesperson of said parliamentary group.
“I am pleased to address you in order to cordially greet you and, in turn, request that you accept the invitation to form part of the parliamentary group that you represent, requesting that you arrange for my incorporation,” the document reads.
With this new integration into Podemos Peru, the congressional bench increases its number of members to 14 people, equaling Alianza Para el Progreso, of César Acuña. In this sense, both groups are competing to be the second force in Congress, after Fuerza Popular, which has 21 congressmen.
Even though Guido Bellido joined Podemos Peru, the party will maintain the same number of commissions (3); however, if another congressman decides to join the party, in that case, they could obtain an additional commission.
It should be noted that the congressman did not leave any group to join José Luna’s group; he remained ungrouped along with eight other legislators.
Guido Bellido was not included in the group. Photo: diffusion
Congress: How many committees are there in total and how many correspond to each parliamentary group?
According to article 35 of the Congress Regulations, There are four types of committees: ordinary committees, which number 24; investigative committees, which number 6; special committees, which number 22; and the Parliamentary Ethics Committee. However, the groups seek to give priority to ordinary committees without diminishing the importance of the other committees.
- People’s Force: 21 congressmen, they are assigned to 4 committees.
- APP (Alliance for Progress): 14 congressmen, they are responsible for 3 committees.
- We can Peru: 14 congressmen, they are responsible for 3 committees.
- Free Peru: 11 congressmen, corresponding to 2 committees.
- Popular Renewal: 10 congressmen, they are assigned to 2 committees.
- Popular Action: 10 congressmen, they are assigned to 2 committees.
- Teaching Block: 8 congressmen, they are assigned to 2 committees.
- Country Advances: 8 congressmen, they are assigned to 2 committees.
- Together for Peru: 8 congressmen, they are assigned to 2 committees.
- We are Peru: 7 congressmen, they correspond to 1 commission.
- Socialist Bench: 5 congressmen, they correspond to 1 commission.
- Honor and Democracy: 5 congressmen, they correspond to 1 commission.
- Popular Democratic Bloc: 5 congressmen, they correspond to 1 commission.
Guido Bellido arrived at Congress with Peru Libre. Photo: Marco Cotrina/La República
Congress: Why do some parties have more committees than others?
The Regulation of the Congress regulates the composition of the Commissions, applying principles of plurality, proportionality and specialization in the matter. The assignment of the directives of the Commissions respects the proportionality of the Parliamentary Groups that make up Congress.
The distribution of congressmen in the Committees is organized in such a way that no congressman belongs to more than five Committees or to less than one. This includes Ordinary Committees, Research Committees, and special Committees for joint study and work, except for members of the Board of Directors. This rule does not apply to participation in protocol or ceremonial Committees.
Guido Bellido: When did he leave the Peru Libre bench?
Congressman Guido Bellido announced his resignation from the Peru Libre bench on November 7, 2022, shortly before the coup attempt by Peter Castillo. On that occasion, he explained that his decision was due to “reasons of conviction and conscience.” Bellido had been a member of Peru Libre since 2015, thus accumulating seven years in the party.
Two weeks after his resignation, Bellido announced his incorporation into the Peru Bicentennial party. Via Twitter, Bellido said that he decided to change political groups after “evaluating the coincidences in principles and objectives of the protest.”
