Attempt to interpellate minister of Government fails for lack of quorum – 2024-07-27 23:21:58

The questioning of the Minister of the Interior, Francisco Jiménez, did not take place on Thursday, July 25, due to the lack of a quorum in the Congress of the Republic, legislative sources reported.

The interpellation would be carried out by the Valor bench, whose leadership criticized the pro-government deputies, who supposedly distanced themselves from the board to prevent the minister of the government of President Bernardo Arévalo from being questioned regarding his work at the head of the Interior portfolio.

The extraordinary session in which Jiménez was to be questioned began with 76 deputies and an hour delay, but the quorum was broken because several parliamentary groups did not attend the session.

The Minister of the Interior arrived at Congress on foot accompanied by his team, but when the latter was ready for the interpellation there were 90 deputies in the chamber, although minutes later the quorum was broken.

Among the deputies who did not attend the session were several from the Vamos party.

“We had moved the ministerial office to the room that was granted to us to be present, we continue with the affirmation that the interpellation is a democratic tool of the Constitution, we ministers are obliged to the call of Congress to the interpellation, we will be attentive to the new call to render accounts,” said Jiménez.

For her part, Sandra Jovel, a deputy from Valor, attacked the pro-government deputies and accused them of having distanced themselves in order to stop the interpellations.

“It is a shame that the ruling party has distanced itself from the issue of this interpellation. Unfortunately, the losers are the people of Guatemala. I am not interpellating the Minister of the Interior for Sandra Jovel, but for the people of Guatemala. I am preparing myself and looking for information to interpellate,” said the parliamentarian.

He also criticised the security detail that accompanied Jiménez to the legislature.

Congress must now set a new date for the interpellation.

The interpellation against Jiménez is in response to Jovel’s request made on May 6, due to insecurity caused by gangs.

Against the chancellor

In addition, there are three interpellations against the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Martínez, which were requested on May 13 by deputies Nadia Lorena de León, Byron Rodríguez, Élmer Palencia, Alvaro Arzú, Jorge Mario Villagrán, Allan Rodríguez, Alexándra Ajcip and Fidel Reyes Lee, among others, according to the Congress of the Republic.

The petition against Martínez is for the actions and results of his administrative and ministerial management in international trade policy, as well as for Guatemala’s vote in favor of Palestine before the United Nations.

Martínez’s interpellations should take place at the end of Jiménez’s, but now the Legislature must define new dates.