The congressman for Popular Renewal Alejandro Muñante summoned the president of the republic José Jerí to convene, under the protection of its constitutional powers, an extraordinary plenary session to give explanations regarding its clandestine meetings with Chinese businessmen.
The legislator recalled that, according to article 118 of the Constitution, the president is empowered to convene an extraordinary legislature through a decree if – he stressed – he has a real will to give his defense on the issue before the country and not before a commission such as the Oversight Commission.
“He can do it in his capacity as president, let us remember Mrs. Dina Boluarte requesting an extraordinary plenary session to authorize her trip abroad, it is the same, and Jerí can do it if he is really interested in presenting his defenses, no longer before a commission but before the country because when the president speaks to Congress he is speaking to the country,” he said.
For now, Muñante—in statements to Peru21— said that his bench has already begun collecting the 78 signatures that, according to the Internal Regulations of Congress, must meet to request an extraordinary plenary session, although “all of this can be avoided if President Jerí, in the exercise of his powers and as president, requests it through a decree,” he insisted. “You could do it, why don’t you?” he questioned.
The representative of Renovación Popular acknowledged, however, that so far there has been no such reaction from the president, so they will continue with the collection of signatures and added that they hope to have the support of the benches.
Plenary and censure of Jerí
At the same time, he continued, his bloc has been supporting the fourth motion of censure presented today by Congressman Ed Málaga.
“Initially, when it became known about this informal meeting in a chifa, we requested through a letter to the president of Congress to hold an extraordinary plenary session. Since there has not been a clear message from President Jerí so far—we have listened to his interviews and his press conference—we have decided to promote a motion of censure.
“Let’s hope that this time the benches are coherent and support the motion. Podemos has blamed (what happened) on all the benches, even on us when it knows perfectly well that Renovación Popular has never been part of any kind of pact or agreement. Hopefully they will sign for the holding of the extraordinary plenary session,” he indicated, after warning that if this possibility materializes, the issue would only be discussed in March when the second legislature 2025-26 begins.
“López Aliaga does not sponsor Maricarmen Alva”
Asked about the suggestion by Renovación Popular presidential candidate Rafael López Aliaga that parliamentarian Maricarmen Alva could eventually assume the Presidency to replace Jerí, Muñante maintained that his leader “only mentioned one possibility.”
“It’s not that he is promoting or sponsoring her, they gave him some names and he has given his opinion, there was even talk of Wilson Soto. Some congressmen from Acción Popular are being raised because none of them are running, there are good and experienced people who could take over if Jerí is removed,” he commented.
On a personal note, meanwhile, Muñante considered that Maricarmen Alva has the experience of having been president of Congress. “She has been a strong defender of democracy, even though some may like her personality and not others, but she has had democratic convictions that she has demonstrated 100% when she was in charge of the Board of Directors,” he stressed.
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