Legislative reform debates focus on bicameralism in Venezuela and Peru

Discussions regarding legislative restructuring are emerging in Venezuela and Peru, with both nations examining the implications of bicameral systems.

In Venezuela, there are calls to restore a Senate to the legislative architecture. Proponents argue that a bicameral system would prevent the rapid passage of laws characteristic of a unicameral model and provide a necessary cooling period for legislative production. Additionally, a Senate is viewed as a mechanism to ensure equitable regional representation, granting equal weight to less populated states to counter centralism.

In Peru, the return to a bicameral system via Constitutional Reform Law No. 31988 has faced criticism. While presented as a solution to prevent 'express laws,' critics argue the new design contains procedural gaps and risks concentrating power. Concerns have been raised that the Senate could act as a super-organ with unilateral imposition powers and exclusive control over key institutions, such as the Constitutional Court and the Central Bank, potentially facilitating state capture.