Senators evaluate non-attendance petition to modify number of deputies

VALPARAÍSO.- The Constitutional Commission of the Senate will begin an analysis of a petition presented by the Executive Branch urging a constitutional reform that would modify the number of deputies established by the “Carta Fundamental”.

The initiative proposes the elimination of 120 deputies so that the composition of the Chamber of Deputies may be regulated, just as it is within the Senate.

Nevertheless, the proposal was met with broad rejection in the Lower House, prompting the Executive Branch to resort to article 68 of the Constitution, which establishes permits the proposal be presented to the other House in such cases.  The article also states that, if approved by a 3/5 majority of the present members (23 at the Senate), the petition will be sent back to the original House it was presented to and will only be considered void if rejected there.

According to Senator Pedro Muñoz (PS), who is a member of the Constitutional Commission, the Upper House should be made aware of the rejected initiative before ruling on the Executive Branch’s petition.