2024-04-21 04:06:03
Cevasco Piedra says that it is the congressmen themselves who must “self-regulate” on the issue of virtuality. Photo: Andina
“Virtuality is here to stay,” that was what the former senior officer of the Congress, Jose Cevascowhen questioned regarding the use of this tool by the majority of congressmenwho choose to participate in plenary sessions and commissions remotely.
Proof of this is the image of the Miguel Grau room, where the last session of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Accusations, only with the presence of Lady Camones, president of the aforementioned working group, while the rest of the chairs were emptysince the other members marked virtual attendance.
But are parliamentarians in some way failing to fulfill their legislative duties by attending their workplace remotely?
For José Cevasco, who worked for more than 30 years in Parliament, since there is no regulation that limits virtuality, those who use it do not fail to fulfill their representative functions. But he considered that congressmen must be “balanced” when using this tool.
In addition, he stressed that a legislative initiative is needed to regulate virtual assistance.
“I would say that parliamentarians have to better balance themselves in this freedom that Congress has given them. Set limits too, if Congress does not set the limits, they have to set the limits themselves,” he pointed out.
Of the 17 congressmen who attended, only Camones was in person. Photo: Congress
“Congressmen must self-regulate”
For example, in the first days of April, the Board of Spokespersons agreed that attendance at the plenary sessions would be in person. This initiative was made by the congressman from Renovación Popular, José Cueto, and had the support of several of his colleagues.
Just a week later, The congressmen thought better of it and refused to leave the facilities that virtuality offers them.so it was agreed that the mandatory in-person plenary sessions would be on Thursdays, while Wednesdays would be semi-in-person sessions.
Regarding this, Cevasco Piedra emphasizes the importance of setting limits on virtuality and implementing some changes, such as keeping the camera on.
“I believe that parliamentarians who connect virtually should have their cameras on, so that it can be seen that they are participating in the session. With the camera off one can think that they are doing something else and they simply have it on so that they are considered present in the plenary session. I suggest the same for the ordinary commissions and other working groups that the Congress has,” he said.
Another measure suggested is that, of the total sessions, half be in person and the other virtual, this guarantees the attendance of parliamentarians. “Virtuality must be well regulated in Congress”, he remarked.
Congress: a manual is needed for the use of virtuality
Also, Jose Cevasco emphasized in the null training of congressmen in the use of virtual tools, something that is needed, since in Congress “there is no manual for the use of virtuality.”
“There must be certain limits. The communications office must teach the congressman how to use the microphones, how to turn them off, how to turn them on. Parliamentarians have to be trained. There is no manual for using virtuality in the Congress”
Likewise, José Cevasco emphasized the lack of training of congressmen in the use of virtual tools, something that is needed, since in Congress “there is no user manual for virtuality”.
“There must be certain limits. The communications office must teach the congressman how to use the microphones, how to turn them off, how to turn them on. Parliamentarians have to be trained. “There is no manual for using virtuality in Congress.”
At another point, Cevasco Piedra recalled what the plenary debates were like when attendance was in person, something that has now been lost “since an empty session produces nothing.”
“The debates are richer when parliamentarians are present in the plenary session. Because political debate involves seeing the face, feeling the euphoria of the debates. There is greater wealth. This cools down when the virtual theme, the essence of the Congress, it does not feel. An empty session produces nothing,” she pointed out.
Finally, given the lack of initiatives that regulate virtuality, he reminded congressmen that they must “balance themselves,” since no other entity can establish regulations for virtuality.
“Parliamentarians regulate themselves, they are autonomous. If they do not regulate themselves, no one will be able to do it, no other entity. Therefore, they have to balance that well, they have to think regarding it consciously. What there has to be is self-regulation Congress regarding the limits of virtuality. You are never going to eliminate it, but you can limit and regulate it,” he stressed.
1713694065
#José #Cevasco #ghost #sessions #Parliament #Congress #set #limits #virtuality #Policy
