American Expatriate Costa Rica

Progress in project to reduce periods between electoral rounds

A constitutional reform that aims to cut the time between the first and second electoral round advances in the Legislature.

On Monday, the lawmakers welcomed the initiative that would reform Article 138 of the Political Constitution and will now be sent to a special legislative commission that will study it.

Then it will be sent to the plenary, where it will have to be voted on twice.

Currently, when no presidential candidate receives at least 40% of the total vote to be elected in February, there is a second electoral round two months later.

The project aims to cut that time so that the second round will be held in mid-March.

Legislator Ottón Solís, from the Citizen Action Party (PAC), who proposed the reform, explained that when there is a second round, the period between vote count and the start of the new administration is very short.

Unlike bills, constitutional reforms follow a different process in the Legislature and require 38 votes for approval.

They have to be read, discussed and voted on three occasions before being sent to a special commission.

In this case, it was already discussed three times.

crhoy.com