The controversy about the salary increase of the deputies has caused multiple questions.
The process to reverse this increase and the possible return of what has already been paid to parliamentarians is being analyzed.
Jorge Castro, first vice president of Congress, explained that a Legal analysis On this matter.
“Yes, of course, a requirement has been made to the Directorate of Legal Affairs so that, within 48 hours, they provide us with a legal opinion on how to proceed with the salaries already paid”Castro declared.
The salary leveling process that was initially executed was based on the Agreement 31-2024approved by the Plenary of the Congress, and was backed by opinions of the Financial Directorate, the Administrative Directorate and the General Directorate.
Once these procedures have been completed, the necessary budgetary modifications were approved. Now, a similar process must be followed for Revert the increase.
Castro explained that the next step is to formalize the reversal of this salary increase, a process that was already requested from the Directorate of Legal Affairs so that the legal framework is determined.
“We hope that today – Juves March 27 – at the end of the afternoon we have the answer. Tomorrow – March 28 – at the meeting of the Board of Directors, we will address the necessary actions to suspend the increase, always based on the law,” he added.
What is needed to cancel the salary increase?
To cancel the increase, a simple amendment is not enough.
A new legislative agreement will be necessary that specifically repeals the point established by the salary increase.
This point is the one that orders its execution by the Board of Directors, but not the entire agreement, since it would be affected to the general budget.
The first draft legislative agreement to cancel the increase had been prepared with the intention of being presented on March 25. However, the session of that day was suspended due to the lack of quorum.
The March 27 session also managed to advance, since the deputies constantly retired and, finally, dissolved for the same reason.
Context
The debate on the elimination of salary increase occurs in the midst of rumors of a possible removal of members of the Board of Directors.
On March 27, the Constitutional Court issued a ruling in which it ordered the expulsion of Deputy Karina Paz, of the Bank Will, Opportunity and Solidarity (you), after an amparo in favor of the rest of the members of that bench. This decision implies that Peace no longer has the power to integrate the directive.
Adim Maldonado, deputy of a faction of the UNE, commented that Congress is fractional due to the lack of adequate representation in the Board of Directors.
Also read: Salary Deputies: The chronology of how they approved the increase while Guatemala slept
According to Maldonado, the alliance that the Board of Directors chose last year with 81 votes does not reflect an equitable representation of the partisan blocks, which has caused friction within the Congress. This has hindered decision -making and the progress of the legislative agenda, he said.
The congressman also mentioned that, in the case of the budget, if certain resources are eliminated, the ceiling of the Congress expenses plan should be adjusted to prevent these funds from being allocated to parliamentary activity.
As for the salary reduction, Maldonado said that “there is an amparo in the Constitutional Court, but there is still no definitive decision on the subject. The important thing is that we are not working together to find a solution.”