Summary.
The bill proposes to amend Article 43 of Law 49 of 1984, which governs the election of members of the Permanent Committees of the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional). The alternative procedure would apply when consensus slates cannot be submitted. To calculate the electoral quotient, the total number of deputies making up the National Assembly would be divided by the number of members of the committee being elected. That quotient would determine the initial allocation of seats in the election.
Each deputy would vote for one candidate on a single ballot. Candidates receiving at least the electoral quotient in votes would be declared elected. If seats remained after allocation under the quotient, they would go to the candidates with the highest vote totals. Ties would be decided by lot. Article 43 would also specify when this procedure must be called: if no consensus slates are submitted within 15 working days counted from the first of July each year, the president of the National Assembly would convene the alternative election.
The bill also proposes new wording for Article 91 on the declaration of a permanent sitting. The National Assembly could enter a permanent sitting if the Plenary expressly agreed to do so. That sitting would last as long as necessary while the required quorum existed and the matter prompting the declaration had not been exhausted. Its continuation would therefore depend on both the prescribed quorum and the status of the matter for which the Plenary agreed to remain in session.
If the president of the National Assembly declared a recess during the sitting, the president would have to state the date and time when it would resume. If that date and time were not announced, the schedules established in Article 86 of the Rules would apply. This provision supplies the applicable schedule for resuming the Plenary’s work after a recess during a permanent sitting under Article 91.
Article 3 expressly identifies Articles 43 and 91 of the consolidated text of Law 49 of December 4, 1984 as the provisions amended. Article 4 provides that the proposed law would take effect on the day following its promulgation. The bill concerns the National Assembly, its deputies, its president, the Plenary and the Permanent Committees. Its provisions would be relevant to people involved in organizing or following the Assembly’s sittings and internal committee elections.
What it proposes.
- Alternative election of Permanent Committee members.
- Declaration and duration of permanent sittings of the Plenary.
- Announcement of when a sitting resumes after a recess.
Who it would affect.
- National Assembly.
- Deputies.
- President and Plenary of the National Assembly.
- Permanent Committee members and candidates.
Key points.
- The alternative election of Permanent Committees would apply when consensus slates cannot be submitted.Art. 1
- The electoral quotient would be calculated by dividing the total number of deputies by the number of committee members to be elected.Art. 1
- Each deputy would vote on a single ballot; remaining seats would be awarded by highest vote total, and ties would be decided by lot.Art. 1
- The president would convene the alternative election if no consensus slates were submitted within 15 working days counted from the first of July each year.Art. 1
- The Plenary could expressly agree to a permanent sitting, which would continue while the required quorum remained and its subject had not been exhausted.Art. 2
- When declaring a recess, the president would state when the sitting would resume; otherwise, the schedules in Article 86 of the Rules would apply.Art. 2
- The bill identifies Articles 43 and 91 as the amended provisions and provides for commencement on the day after promulgation.Arts. 3-4