The Constitution Commission of the Congress of the Republic suspended the approval of the predictamen that proposes to eliminate the Dry law and more flexible the publication of electoral surveys allowing its dissemination to three days prior to the date of the election.
After the support of the proposal, in charge of the president of the Arturo Alegría Commission, parliamentarians from different banks, they spoke for and against the proposals. Finally, however, it was agreed to defer the vote to collect more information on both issues.
Surveys
The initiative, prepared from the bills presented by the congressmen Edward Malaga and Alejandro Soto, modifies the Organic Law of Elections by establishing that “the pollsters with registration in force before the National Jury of Elections (JNE)” may “disseminate surveys on the intention of vote or vote simulation with respect to a popular election or consultation through mass media until the three days of the day prior to the day of the day.
It also points out that the restriction “does not apply to the polls to the urn’s mouth, published or disseminated after the voting schedule”.
Failure to comply with the provision will be sanctioned with a fine between ten and one hundred tax tax units (UIT).
Currently, the publication or dissemination of surveys and projections of any nature on the results of the elections through the media can be carried out until Sunday before the day of the elections.
Alegría said that the prohibition in the dissemination of surveys is “obsolete and ineffective” and added that in practice, “it does not avoid its dissemination in social networks” generating a situation of inequality of information between those who have access to the Internet “and those who do not have it. In addition, he indicated, the dissemination of“ false and manipulated surveys that seek to induce the vote contributing to a black market of questionable quality ”.
Alejandro Cavero, on the other hand, suggested that the dissemination of voting intention surveys be authorized up to 24 hours before the electoral process “as de facto practice has been in recent years.”
Dry law
The issue that generated more discussion, however, was the one referred to the repeal of the article that regulates the so -called dry law.
To date, the Organic Law of Elections is recalled, prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages from 8:00 a.m. the day before the Voting Day, until 8.00 the day following the elections. It also provides for the closure of the establishments or spaces of commercial establishments dedicated exclusively to said expert.
Congresswoman Gladys Echaíz said that “the country lives difficult moments and violence is increasingly noticeable, which has become a serious problem for the State.” In that context, he said that “nobody can guarantee that with alcoholic beverages, violent people are not used to prevent a vote from reaching or another action of any nature that affects the electoral result is committed.”
“I do not agree with the elimination of dry law while living in an uncontrolled violence and with mercantilism in which people’s very life has become,” he said.
His considerations were backed by Lady Camones, from Alliance for Progress. She, however, was in favor of a flexibility of this measure indicating that it could be applied from 8:00 a.m. on Saturday prior to the election day until noon on Monday.
For his part, Patricia Juárez warned about the contradiction in the standard because although it prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages, it does not prevent its consumption. “The project is aimed at generating responsibility in citizens as a whole, the optimal thing is that this issue is released from antiquity. I do not believe that those who want to commit violence are more excited because they are under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
Arturo Alegría, on the other hand, said that what is sought is that the State stops having a paternalistic attitude regarding the citizen who – he said – must have the right not to see his freedoms cut by a rule that does not correspond to the current reality. “
Receive your Peru21 by email or by WhatsApp. Subscribe to our enriched digital newspaper. Take advantage of discounts here.
