Toledo (EFE).- The president of the Parliament of Castilla-La Mancha, Pablo Bellido, considers that “it would be advisable not to delay too much” the debate on the reform of the Statute of Autonomy.
In his opinion, this reform should address issues such as expanding the number of deputies, providing the Government with more executive effectiveness in certain moments of urgency through the ability to approve decrees that are later validated by Parliament and establishing the defense of natural resources.
Bellido explained that increasing the number of deputies is not because “it is necessary to have more politicians, but because citizens vote for parties that later have great difficulties to have representation” and this “is not fair.”
On how many seats the autonomous Chamber should have after the reform of the Statute, Bellido has indicated that it is the autonomous Parliament of Spain with the fewest representatives, along with La Rioja, which has a territory and a population little more than the province of Guadalajara.
Bellido believes that the number of deputies is not the most important aspect of the reform of the Statute
“We should reflect on the number that we should have, I do not prejudge one number or another, and I also believe that it is not the most important issue of the reform that we must undertake,” said Bellido.
But he has specified that with the current figure “there is a high percentage of citizens who are voting for political options that are practically unable to access the regional Parliament.”
More important than the number of deputies, he said, is to provide the Government with more executive efficiency in certain moments of urgency, reinforce rights and public services or defend natural resources for the development of the region.
In this sense, he explained that the current Statute of Autonomy does not contemplate the ability to approve decrees that are later validated in Parliament, something that is established in practically all autonomous Parliaments.
He has given as an example the period of the coronavirus pandemic in which the Government has had to permanently go through Parliament to pass laws.
Although it has been “effective”, he has stated that “there are times when being able to approve a law in 24 or 48 hours and then be able to validate it in the following month is very convenient”.
The entry of Vox in the Cortes, a decision of the citizens
On the other hand, and regarding the entry of Vox into the Cortes with four deputies, he has said that “it is what the citizens have decided” and it must be respected.
“We are going to welcome the Vox parliamentary group, which will bring its ideas,” Bellido said.
In any case, he has asked them to express these ideas with respect, “to defend with all the forcefulness that he wants what he thinks, but also to come with a spirit of building and negotiating and reaching agreements.”
Page’s inauguration debate, July 5
Bellido has also indicated that on July 5 the investiture debate of Emiliano García-Page as regional president will take place in the regional courts, where he will establish the general lines of government.
Throughout the morning he will have a speech without a time limit, in which he will present his political program and the following day the parliamentary groups will be able to reply.
“It is a rich debate” that arouses “enormous interest” because the guidelines of a four-year government program are established, Pablo Bellido highlighted.