INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
84 to 60.The proposal, originally put forth by President Nayib Bukele on June 1, was approved early on June 7.Marcela Pineda, a deputy from
the governing party Nuevas Ideas, argued that this reform aims to guarantee Salvadorans the right to an equal vote.During a lengthy debate
party members, argued that the current system of electing deputies has led to an imbalance, with minority parties securing legislator seats
with fewer votes.El Salvador parliament building
(FMLN), the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), and the Vamos party rejected the reform.They saw it as an attempt to consolidate the
President Bukele in his fourth year in office, secured 66 votes in favor from Nuevas Ideas and its allies.The reform was passed after a
heated debate lasting over six hours, marked by allegations of corruption, incompetence, ignorance, and cowardice exchanged between
pro-government and opposition deputies.Proponents of the reform reminded the opposition that the Assembly originally had 60 deputies since
The number was increased to 84 in 1991 by ARENA and remained unchanged after the Peace Accords of 1992.Critics of the increase called it a
corrupt pact to secure positions in the State apparatus.Deputies vehemently dismissed this claim from FMLN, ARENA, and the Vamos party, who
counter-accused their adversaries of corruption and of failing to deliver on their promises to the people.The changes will take effect eight
days after their publication in the Official Gazette and will be applied in the legislative elections on February 4 of the next year.Also
presented by Interior Minister Juan Carlos Bidegain, is currently under review by the Political Commission and is expected to be debated in
reduces to 60 the number of the current 84 deputies, political news El Salvador
