Redistricting Bill Finally Tabled in H.O.R.  

The Briceño administration has finally introduced a Representation of the People Act to give effect to the redivision report of the Election and Boundaries Commission. Several elected representatives are on record voicing their concerns with the recommendations outlined in the report. The expectation is that the report will be voted down by the lower and upper houses because it is deemed unconstitutional. But this is a process that must take place according to the Consent Order signed in 2020. So, what happens after? Will the Briceno administration endeavor to redraw the constituency borders before the 2025 general elections? We asked the prime minister.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well the law requires us to bring it to the house, despite the fact that others have failed. I think where both political parties have expressed concerns with the report but the law requires us to bring it to the house, so what we have done, the minister decided to table the report. It will go to house committee and then after that we will decided whether we accept or not.

 

Paul Lopez

“Clearly this bill will be rejected. WE have representatives on record saying that it will not fly in the face of the constitution. Do you anticipate that there will be any sort of redistricting exercise on the ground before the next general election is called?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well, we have to follow the process, we have to follow the law. The process is that it first has to go to the house. It goes to the house committee and then it is debated. Until that happens then we can’t move. So, we have to wait, whether we are going to have enough time, it is very tight because next year, by November of next year we have to have an election and the redistricting exercise takes some time because there is a lot of ground work that has to be done on the ground and if you are going to change your boundaries and the voters it takes time. If we were to quickly move then probably we can do it, but we will have to wait and see.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So what the constitutionally of another election in the manner that constituencies are set up at this time.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think I want to wait until we have an answer from the National Assembly, from the House and Senate before I give my comments on that issue.”