Deputies ask to return to the presence

The PGN 2022 that continues to be discussed in Parliament, establishes that the 80 deputies will receive each month G. 3.5 million as fuel quotas. What is striking is that legislators continue to hold sessions in a hybrid way (some in person and most virtually).

In addition, there is nothing defined about how the format of the sessions will be after the parliamentary recess (from March 2022). Mainly, due to the risk that a third wave of Covid-19 will hit the country.

Antonio Buzarquis, Liberal deputy, pointed out that the sessions of Congress must return to the presence.

“Just as citizens have resumed their work, each one is running the risk they must take. We have passed the worst of the pandemic. In the event that there is a third wave and Health establishes a new isolation then, yes, we should continue in virtuality “, he said.

He pointed out that all parliamentarians know of the commitment and responsibility they have. In addition, he affirmed that it is very comfortable to meet from home, but the physical place to do so is the Congress.

“The return should take place after the return of the parliamentary recess. We are studying the budget from a sofa. This reduces the seriousness of the role of Parliament ”, he questioned.

FUEL
Buzarquis, pointed out that the deputies who do not attend the face-to-face sessions should not receive the fuel quota.
“They should not be paid for a service they are not providing. It’s like getting paid for a job you’re not doing, ”he said.

He was referring to the quota of G. 3.5 million of fuel that they will receive per month from next year, according to the PGN that is being debated in Congress. It represents around G. 117 thousand a day. It is worth mentioning that it has not yet been approved, this week it is dealt with precisely in the Lower House.

VALLEJO
For her part, Rocío Vallejo, national deputy for the Patria Querida (PPQ) party, reported that they have a resolution that establishes that the sessions must continue to be hybrid until the end of the year. For this reason, only in the last session will they define whether to extend the term after the parliamentary recess.

“I imagine that this will be the trend as long as the sanitary conditions are in place. It also depends on the possibilities that a third wave arrives in the country and the prescriptions that arrive from the Ministry of Health, ”he said. Currently, there are deputies who always attend in person because they have connectivity problems from their homes. However, this only represents a minority group of legislators.

Most of the deputies are vaccinated, except for Jorge Brítez, an independent deputy, who sits right next to Vallejo.

Regarding the fuel quota, the legislator justified the benefit by claiming that her colleagues who participate virtually in the sessions, in the same way move and fulfill their parliamentary functions.