The initiative promoted by Lilian Samaniego, national senator for the ANR, was widely publicized. Mainly because it establishes that officials enter through the political quota before the contest to the Chancellery.
María Noelia López, president of the Association of Diplomatic and Consular Career Officials (ADEP), pointed out that the aforementioned bill establishes two dangerous developments for the foreign service. The first is that a political quota is opened for positions in consulates. These entities are in charge of serving fellow citizens, defend their interests and are bearers of the state public faith.
“We have functions as notaries public within the exterior, we recognize documents, we do private documentation,” he explained.
The initiative also establishes the prohibition of proselytizing. That is, officials may participate in political events.
“The diplomatic career is well protected to proselytize, because we are statesmen, we protect state interests. When we have to respond to a flag, it makes our work difficult ”, he said.
The bill establishes that 30% of the civil servants are incorporated by political quota. It should be remembered that 50% of the ambassadors are politically appointed. This project is primarily focused on civil servants.
The three affected careers are; the diplomatic and consular career, the civil career and administrative career. Mainly, the latter will be more affected.
According to López, if the initiative is approved, it will require a budget increase of G. 35,000 million for the Foreign Ministry (US $ 5 million). This, for the hiring of 500 officials through the political quota.
POSTPONEMENT
Through a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) reiterated its request for postponement of the treatment of the aforementioned bill, so that it can be properly analyzed.
“We want to find points of understanding with the Honorable Chamber of Senators through dialogue and cooperation,” reads part of the text published on Friday afternoon.
CONTEXT
Lilian Samaniego had already presented a similar project in November 2019. However, after two public hearings it was withdrawn due to the rejection it generated in the public.
A year later (November 2020), the legislator returns to raise a similar document, however, unlike the first, she did not hold any public hearing. The six requests for a hearing requested by the diplomats were rejected by the Foreign Relations Commission chaired by Samaniego herself.
