Balance Legislativo en Temas Político – Electorales Cuatrienio 2010 – 2014

These debates aimed to make changes in areas such as health, education, and justice, as well as address issues related to the armed conflict, recognition of victims' rights, and the establishment of a legal framework to provide guarantees for combatants who decide to reintegrate after a potential peace agreement. Despite the significant impact of these debates, few scenarios within the Congress focused on discussing and approving projects that aimed to guarantee transparency in electoral processes, reform representation in the Congress, provide the opposition with the necessary tools to exercise their rights and control, redesign the structure and nature of electoral bodies, and other necessary political-electoral reforms to strengthen democracy. During the 2010-2014 period, the Congress of the Republic debated 1,675 initiatives, of which 1,503 (89.70%) were ordinary law initiatives, 116 (6.90%) were legislative acts, and 56 (3.30%) were constitutional laws. Of the 278 projects that completed their legislative process, 269 (16.06%) became laws of the Republic and legislative acts, while 9 (3.2%) were declared inexequible by the Constitutional Court. The majority of the initiatives (86.0%) originated from congressmen, with 129 (9.0%) related to reforms in the electoral system, while the remaining 1,311 (91.0%) addressed various national and local issues. The government presented 212 initiatives, of which only 9 (4.2%) aimed to introduce changes in the electoral system. Other authorities with legislative initiative faculties presented 7 projects, with 6 related to electoral procedures and the independence of the National Electoral Council. The number of projects related to political-electoral issues varied across the four legislatures of the 2010-2014 period, with more than 30 projects presented in each legislature. However, the 2011-2012 legislature had the lowest number of initiatives, with 28 projects (19.2%). The 146 initiatives related to electoral reforms were categorized into 20 areas, with 31 (21.23%) addressing the organization and functions of the Congress, including projects to reform the 1992 Law, create and restructure commissions, and establish new advisory bodies. Other areas of focus included the qualifications and terms of local authorities, the electoral system, and the functions of high-ranking officials. Only 6 of the 146 electoral reform projects completed their process in the Congress, with 5 being sanctioned as laws or legislative acts. The Acto Legislativo 01 of 2011, which dealt with the loss of investiture of congressmen due to conflict of interests, was declared inexequible by the Constitutional Court. The new Congress, which will take office on July 20, 2014, will face different challenges, including a smaller coalition of the National Unity and two oppositions, one from the left and one from the right, which will exert greater control and counterbalance on the initiatives presented by the executive.