The president of the Congress, Nery Ramos, must analyze which sanction will apply to the two deputies who starred in a physical altercation this Tuesday, April 29 in the parliamentary hemicycle, after the session was built in which a group of parliamentarians resisted altering the agenda and knowing a proposal that included changes in the Board of Directors and the work commissions.
A group of opposition deputies incredible to have raised the session when there were more than a hundred deputies. At that time, the deputies Greice Doménica de León, of the Vamos party, and the official Elena Sofía Motta exchanged push in the spaces of the board.
The conduct of both deputies can be sanctioned, in accordance with what is established by the Organic Law of Congress.
Article 67 of that regulation indicates that when a deputy “will miss the ethics that corresponds to its high rank, or incurred in disrespect against a representative to the Congress of the Republic, after a rigorous investigation and provided that their actions do not imply the commission of crime or lack that give rise to prejudice”, may be sanctioned by the Board of Directors as follows:
- a) With private admonition, if the fault is mild
- b) With public admonition, if the fault is serious
- c) With a vote of censorship, if the fault is of such gravity that compromises the legislative body
In all cases, prior hearing for ten days that the deputy must be granted against whom the corresponding proceedings have been initiated, so that they may defend themselves in accordance with the law and act will be released from what is acted.
Against the previous sanctions, the appeal is appropriate, which must be brought in writing within the term of five days after the date of notification of the sanction, and must be resolved by the Plenary of the Congress within the two sessions following the filing of the appeal. The Plenary of the Congress may revoke, modify or confirm the sanction.
In article 18, subsection d), of the functions of the President of the Congress, it is indicated that “it must demand that correction and dignity be observed in the debates and discussions of the Congress of the Republic, directing them with all impartiality and with strict attachment to the standards and parliamentary practices. When a deputy is missing the order, he must call him comedy to it”.
Loss of respect
The former president of the Congress, Roberto Alejos, says that in the last legislatures the lack of respect, shouts and insults, have become fashionable. He recalled that on other occasions sanctions have been applied by similar situations.
“It is an obligation of the president of Congress to make a public warning; otherwise, he will lose control of the plenary. This incident was after the plenary rise, but it was within the hemicycle, which should be considered sacred,” he said.
Alejos recalled that in plenary sessions of previous administrations it was urged that the parliamentarians dress properly and was a reason for warning if they did not arrive presentable; The use of hat inside the hemicycle was not allowed. However, he believes that in the last periods they have been too “permissive” and control has been lost.
“The president of the Congress can make a press conference with whom he committed the fault, he can quote it with the press in front, he can make an warning through a publication. Everything depends on how the president of Congress wants to handle the plenary,” Alejos explained.
He added: “Today insults are confused with freedom of expression and other aspects that have turned the hemicycle into a disrespect space, as well as citations to public officials,” he added.