National Assembly will focus on two projects

In the first regular work week of the National Assembly, the president of the legislative body, Gabriela Rivadeneira, will have to define the issues to be discussed in the plenary, which will begin with the continuation of treatment of reforms to the Mining Act in the Commission of Economic Regime, and the first debate of the plenary, which could start with two texts, that according to the ruling party Alianza PAIS (AP), are a priority and are ready to be rated: the draft of the Communications Act and the adherence of La Concordia as canton of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas.

However, the draft of the Communications Act, which was delivered by Assemblyman Mauro Andino (AP) still faces possible changes, and its approval would take several days. Moreover, the formal designation of the project manager is still pending.

On his behalf, Assemblyman Luis Fernando Torres from the Creando Oportunidades movement (CREO) ratified his request for the project to be debated again in the current plenary because “it would be illegitimate to approve it without a discussion including the new members of the Assembly.”

As for the mining reforms, which was sent by the Executive two weeks ago under an urgent economic nature, it is expected that tomorrow the last revision will be carried out, thus giving path to the preparation of the first report on the first debate in the plenary.

The head of the Commision of Economic Regime, Oswaldo Larriva, said that tomorrow they will receive the representatives of mining industry as guests, however, representatives of indigenous communities and environmental groups are asking to be included in the discussion and say they have not received invitation, although their populations will be affected.

Cuenca. Carlos Perez (right) and others in the anti-mining protest.