The Executive Branch will send to the National Congress a Bill to strengthen the independence of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec)in which he proposes transforming it into a decentralized and self-sufficient entity with functional autonomy, and with authorities elected through the Legislative Power, among other proposals.
On the institutional strengthening side, the bill modifies the legal nature of INDEC as a decentralized and autarkic entity with functional autonomy (instead of a decentralized body, as it is currently), in order to guarantee their functional and economic independence.
It also proposes that the appointment of authorities be modified: the executive director will be appointed by the National Executive Power, but must have the agreement of the Senate, while the technical director will be appointed by the executive director, after a public contest for background and opposition.
Both will hold office for 5 years, to guarantee continuity in the face of changes in the Executive Branch, and must have “recognized track record, high professional qualification and suitability in statistics or related disciplines”Official sources confirmed to Télam.
The project also creates the “Bicameral Monitoring Commission of the National Statistical System”which will be in charge in Congress of promoting methodological improvements, new operations and statistical products that meet the information demands of the population.
The Government seeks to guarantee the functional and economic independence of the organization
In addition, it may recommend the removal of the institute’s executive director for non-compliance or poor performance.
Regarding the modernization of statistical production, a specific definition of Administrative Records (RR.AA.) is incorporated and, to ensure the data protections, statistical secrecy, confidentiality conditions, and data processing and storage protocols are strengthened.
On the other hand, under the recommendation of international organizations, adheres to the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and good practices, principles to which all agencies producing official statistics must adhere.
It also includes a specific chapter on the quality of statistics, which establishes the commitment to continuously evaluate, improve and safeguard the quality of official statistics in terms of relevance, timeliness, impartiality, transparency, and comparability, while at the same time the essential guidelines for dissemination and statistical dissemination are established.
Finally, for the first time and explicitly, the obligation to prepare a multi-annual statistical program is also included in the legislation, with the aim of defining the strategic development of official statistics and the coordination of production between the different organizations of the System. National Statistician.
