Ruling Party imposes the final word on Communications Bill

Although the second debate already came to an end, the block of Alianza Pais, through Mauro Andino, will include reforms to the draft on the Communications Bill.

The proposal of including modifications goes against Article 61 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Function, which establishes that the speaker of a project (in this case Mauro Andino) cannot add any issue to his final version that has not been suggested by the Plenary.

And, because the former president of the Parliament, Fernando Cordero, closed the debate on the Communications Bill on last April 11, 2012, there is no space for any modification. That is, the project should be voted on as it is.

But, the government ensures and promotes that Andino, as a speaker, can include the suggestions he thinks as “necessary”, such as the media lynching, the creation of a Media Superintendency, changes to the Regulation Board, and the inclusion of citizen groups in the radio spectrum.

“The modus operandi of the ruling party consisted in violating procedures, in the case of the Communications Bill, it was a systematic practice,” says Cesar Montufar, former legislator, who recalls the “double game” that Alianza Pais uses, referring to the last term of the Assembly where they did not have majority of votes, so Cordero closed the debate and closed the session for not having enough votes. But now they have a large majority, so they are planning to include new topics and figures that were not discussed enough.

Alianza Pais assemblymen and former soccer players, Agustin Delgado (left) and Ivan Hurtado, talk during the Plenary meetings.