Constitutional reform establishes the return to bicameralism in Congress

The Government enacted this Wednesday, March 20, the constitutional reform that will allow the return to bicameralism in the Congress of the Republic. This decision implies significant changes in the legislative structure of the country, with the creation of a Senate composed of 60 senators, who will join the 130 deputies in the new parliamentary composition that will take effect from July 2026. The approval of this reform, which modifies 53 articles of the Political Constitution, was preceded by an intense parliamentary debate and culminated in a favorable vote of 91 legislators, compared to 31 against and one abstention. The proponents of the proposal highlighted the importance of having a two-chamber system to promote greater reflection in the approval of laws and better political control. However, not all political sectors agreed with this measure. Some critical voices argued that the decision should not be made by a Congress with high levels of unpopularity, recalling that in the 2018 referendum, the population voted against the return to bicameralism. One of the most controversial points of this reform is the possibility of immediate re-election of senators and deputies, even though the population had previously voted against this option in the referendum. This provision has generated disagreements among legislators, with some expressing concern over what they consider an attempt at self-legitimization of Congress. Furthermore, the reform establishes the specific functions and powers of each chamber. While the Senate will be responsible for issues such as the election of members of the Constitutional Court, the appointment of the Comptroller General, or the ratification of directors of the Central Reserve Bank, the chamber of deputies will have functions such as accusing high authorities before the Senate for constitutional violations or crimes committed in the exercise of their functions. In summary, the enactment of this constitutional reform marks a milestone in the political history of the country and establishes the foundations for a new configuration of the Congress of the Republic. The return to bicameralism poses challenges and opportunities that must be addressed with responsibility and transparency to ensure the proper functioning of democratic institutionalism in Peru.