Less than three days after the election of the Board of Directors of the Congress, unless a last -minute surprise occurs, the numbers show an increasingly defined scenario.
Everything indicates that there would be a second round between the list of the democratic block and that of the opposition block headed by Congressman José Cueto.
If that outcome is specified this Saturday, there is a group that, without leading the contest, could tip the balance and define the next president of the Congress: the third list, made up of the left block and non -grouped congressmen.
Where do those 23 votes come from?
That third list, led by Carlos Zeballos, spokesman for the leftist block and a applicant to the presidency of Congress, has managed to ensure 23 votes until Wednesday afternoon.
As explained to Peru21the 23 votes are distributed as follows: five of the popular democratic block – the group of Zeballos -, five of the socialist block, eight of together for Peru (JP) and five of non -grouped congressmen, whose names are maintained, for now, in reserve.
Are there 13 more votes?
But the 23 may not be the only ones. Zeballos states that 13 congressmen from other banks – disconform with the lists presented by their own political groups – would have assured him that they will vote for their formula. Although he did not reveal names, the congressman showed that there could be more surprises before Saturday.
For now, the concrete is that the third list has 23 safe votes. And if they finally do not go to the second round, their block will be key to define which of the two finalist lists will support.
The decision will be made at that time, Zeballos said to this newspaper.
Popular Action and Avanza Country in Negotiation Mode
Meanwhile, two key banks still do not reveal their letters: Popular Action (9 votes) and Avanza País (6 votes), which together represent 15 decisive votes. Both have been courted by the main lists, but until the end of this edition they had not made a decision.
On the Popular Action side, Congressman Luis Aragon declared on Channel N that José Cueto offered them the first vice presidency of the table and the presidency of the Budget Commission.
However, the bench must still solve two things: choose between Ilich López or Aragon himself as his representative for a vice presidency, and define which list will finally be added. The decision could be known in the next few hours.
In the case of Avanza País, its candidate for the vice presidency or the list that will officially supported.
Cueto and their numbers: 29 fixed, 44 at best
The list commanded by José Cueto has the support of three banks that, together, reach 29 safe votes: five of honor and democracy, eleven of popular renewal and thirteen of Podemos Peru.
If they manage to add to Popular Action and Avanza País, the block would reach 44 votes. But even so, it is not enough to win in the first round.
The democratic block goes ahead … but it is not enough
On the other path, the democratic block, composed of Popular Force (21), app (17), we are Peru (9) and Peru Libre (11) – this last after rejoining with congresswoman Kelly Portalatino – adds 58 votes.
They are close to winning, but not enough: they lack 6 votes to reach the 66 that the regulation demands to win in the first round.
Therefore, conversations with Popular Action and Avanza País remain open.
This Friday the candidacies will be formalized and the names of those who postulate the presidency and the three vice presidencies of the Congress will be known for each of the three lists.
Among them could be José Jerí, who sounds as a candidate of Somos Peru to the Presidency for the Popular Democratic Block.
Second round at the door to choose a board of directors?
According to article 12 of the Congress Regulation, the election of the Board of Directors requires a simple majority of the congressmen present. However, divergent interpretations persist on this point.
Congressman Carlos Zeballos argues that, to win in the first round, they would need 66 votesthat is, a legal or qualified majority, not only of the attendees.
As recalled, in the 2021 election, the then senior officer of the Congress, Hugo Rovira, indicated that it was required qualified majority (66 votes) To proclaim a winning list in the first round.
Instead, for second roundthe majority of votes of the parliamentarians present in the hemicycle are enough.
However, the current board of directors could choose to proclaim a list with a simple majority of those present, which could generate a regulatory controversy.
Legislative sources do not rule out that a point of order to demand that the minimum of 66 votes be fulfilled in the first round.
In this scenario, The left does not lead, but could bow the balance. If there is second round, your support will be decisive
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