The Decentralization Commission of the Congress approved –with 10 votes in favor– the opinion of the bill that proposes “the elimination of the positions of regional prefects, provincial sub-prefects and district sub-prefects as designated political authorities in charge of the Ministry of the Interior”.
As argued during the session, it is sought that these positions – in which the officials are placed by finger – disappear because the prefects and sub-prefects interrupt and hinder the work carried out by the mayors and governors. The opinion also states that the government, from the Ministry of the Interior, allocates around S/67 million to support these authorities, although the real figure exceeds S/80 million, according to this newspaper.
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In addition, Congresswoman Nilza Chacón (Popular Force), author of the proposal, assured Peru21 that “positions of trust are granted to people with ties to the political arm of Sendero Luminoso.”
This newspaper has reported on different occasions that there are 16 new prefects and sub-prefects who are on the Movadef slates.
Peru21 It has published the irregularities and links of the vast majority of political authorities, for example, those that are affiliated with Peru Libre or have connections with radical groups such as Conare-Sute, Fenatep, the Magisterial Party, among others.
Nilza Chacón also referred to another complaint from this newspaper and assured that these authorities are not chosen by meritocracy. “We understand that the government party defends the prefects who are people appointed by hand,” she asserted.
So far this year, the budget of the General Directorate of Internal Government (DGI) –the body in charge of the prefects and sub-prefects– had a significant growth of more than 70% for expenses related to tickets and travel expenses. The initial budget for this item of the DGI was S/190,000, but, after the modifications so far in 2022, this figure rose to more than S/326,000; that is, 71.6% more.
Prescribed charges
Comprehensive security analyst Pedro Yaranga told Peru21.TV that maintaining these authorities would not be justified.
“Before 2003 there was justification for the existence of prefects and sub-prefects because they represented the government in the most remote towns, but later they were assigned another position; then, with the new Organic Law of Regional Governments, all the functions performed by the prefects and sub-prefects are assumed by the regional governments”, he explained.
He added that “to date there would be no justification for the existence of prefects and sub-prefects because, over the years, they have been assigned a political function and not a merely technical function. Therefore, they have always been misused and now more than ever.
For his part, the former GEIN official José Luis Gil assured that “probably at the beginning this has had some effectiveness, but in these times, it has become the opposite of what was created, in an element of deinstitutionalization.”
Now it will be the plenary session of Congress that must ratify the agreement reached yesterday in the Decentralization Commission led by parliamentarian Diana Gonzáles.
Data
- The legislator Chacón pointed out that by 2023 they are even asking to increase the budget to cover the salaries of the prefects and sub-prefects.
- He stated that he requested an explanation from the Ministry of the Interior, the portfolio in charge of these authorities, but they have not given him an answer.
