Marcos Castillero chairs the last session of his two-term National Assembly presidency, closing shop early on April 29 at a reasonable hour. No mad rush to debate pressing business or controversial measures this time, and with that lost opportunities to slip outrageous amendments into the law without anybody looking. Asamblea Nacional photo by Erick Santos.
Little drama allowed at the end of the Pandemic Days legislative year
by Eric Jackson
Some legislative years go right up to the midnight on April 30 deadline in a frantic rush. Sometimes, to avoid that, important legislation gets put off for special sessions, which only the president of the republic can call and can only take up the business the chief executive specifies. There will be committee meetings, courtesy calls and photo opportunities between now and the July 1 start of the next legislative year, but it’s unlikely that there will be nay more plenary sessions on Marcos Castillero’s shift.