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In an unprecedented way and against the clock, The Senate Chamber will analyze and vote this Sunday, Easter Day, the reform that postpones to May the municipal, regional and delegate elections that will draft the new Constitution, what’s more of the Government project that establishes new support for the middle class.
Both proposals had a slow and complex procedure in the Constitution and Finance committees of the Upper House, so the table scheduled a special session for this day at 10:00 hours.
The schedule also foresees that the projects will be dispatched this same Sunday and can be seen first thing in the morning on Monday, April 5 in the Chamber of Deputies and Deputies for your third and last process.
The proposal to postpone the elections came from the Government based on the recommendations of the medical community, which considers that before the worsening of the second wave of Covid-19 that plagues the country, that has the hospital network on the verge of collapse, The conditions are not adequate to carry out the voting on April 10 and 11.
With the new dates, these elections will take place on the days 15th and 16th of next month, delaying the second round of the election of governors to June 13 and the primaries for the presidential elections to July 18.
The proposal also includes the suspension of the electoral campaign until April 29This being one of the points most discussed by congressmen because some groups understand that this measure harms candidates with fewer resources than those who are opting for re-election or are part of traditional party structures.
Meanwhile, the Senate Chamber will also meet to analyze the changes to the government initiative on aid for the middle class, which advanced in the Finance Commission after a agreement of the ruling party and the opposition.
Among the consensuses reached are the inclusion of more pensioners, more flexible access to the Emergency Family Income (IFE), an increase in the voucher for transporters, a six-month comparison base and the additional contribution to cultures and the arts.
“A LOT OF FAITH AND HOPE” IN THE GOVERNMENT
On the eve of the special session, the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency (Segpres), Juan Jose Ossa, urged the senators to give their vote in favor of both projects, so that they can become law as soon as possible.
“We have a lot of faith and hope in which the middle class bond and the constitutional reform project that postpones the elections are going to be reprimanded from the Senate, “said the Secretary of State.
“We hope that the Chamber of Deputies on Monday morning will do the same. So we are full of spirits, a lot of strength and a lot of conviction, “Ossa closed.
DETAILS OF THE REFORM POSTPONING ELECTIONS
Regarding the reform that postpones the elections to May, one of the changes that was approved by a majority of votes in the Senate Constitution Committee, which met on Thursday morning and afternoon to debate the almost 40 indications that were presented to the proposal , was the possibility that mayors who are candidates for reelection may resume their positions from the publication of this law until 11:59 p.m. on April 28.
The initiative came from the Chamber of Deputies and Deputies without that possibility, a matter that had disturbed the communal heads, especially due to the exceptional period in which the country is due to the coronavirus.
Likewise, the Constitution Commission approved an indication that declares as mandatory and unavoidable holidays for all employees of the store on election days. Said norm requires the votes of two thirds of the senators in the Chamber.
In addition, a provision was incorporated that establishes that “during the days of elections for positions of popular representation, public transport will be free, in order to promote and encourage citizen participation within said processes “.
The commission also endorsed the increase to 0.6 UF of the bonus received by the advisers of the Electoral Board delegates, in the understanding that the bonus that the board members and also the delegates will receive had been increased.
DETAILS OF THE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE
Among the agreements reached by the ruling party and the opposition in the Senate Finance Committee regarding the new economic aid package is the increased coverage from the most vulnerable 60 to 80 percent. With this, the beneficiaries, which were initially 6.6 million people, are expanded to 10.4 million.
In addition, the benefit of pensioners for old age and disability under the modality of life annuity was included, a 100,000 pesos bonus to retirees due to old age or disability in programmed withdrawal mode who receive pensions equal to or greater than a basic solidarity pension and less than 408,125 pesos.
Similarly, a 100,000 pesos bonus to old-age and disability pensioners from the old system with pensions lower than 408,125 pesos.
It was also agreed modify the comparison base of income drop: the initial project established it in two months (December and January), but the average of six months of the year 2019 will be used with the same 6 months of the year 2020 (second semester).
On the other hand, it was agreed increase the bonus for carriers from 350,000 to 500,000 pesos, in such a way as to leave it on equal terms to the base bond established by this law.
Likewise, they will be awarded 50,000 pesos per member to households mostly in Phase 3 or Phase 4 that have a Family Subsidy (SUF) or user of the Seguridades y Oportunidades Subsystem (SSyOO). In this case the payment will be automatic.
In turn, the coverage of the Emergency Family Income from 60 to 80 percent of socioeconomic vulnerability according to the Social Household Registry for all those households that have been found in Phase 1 and Phase 2, while establishing additional simplification and exceptional increase in the payments of this benefit for April 2021.
In parallel, it was agreed to grant an IFE to those who are in Phase 1 and Phase 2, regardless of the days elapsed. In addition, they will be entitled to 100,000 pesos per family member, decreasing from the fifth member of the household to the tenth.
Finally, it was agreed to deliver a extraordinary contribution to the arts and culture sector through an additional $ 10 million to the 16 million dollars available to help the sector, which will be through an allocation line that would allow the delivery of direct subsidies.
