Constitutional reform.
The National Assembly on October 28 approved a constitutional reform package, one of the key electoral pledges of new President Laurentino Cortizo. Parliament must vote again in January on a final version of the reform, before that is put to a referendum in mid-2020. However, the October version has been the subject of strong criticism by various interest groups, suggesting it may have to be altered before the January vote.
International and business concerns over perceived impunity may incentivise legislators to revise the current reform proposal.
Cortizo will worry that same-sex marriage disputes could spark a conservative backlash, as in they did in Costa Rica in 2018.
A prolonged constitutional reform process could delay other items on Cortizo’s legislative agenda, such as agricultural reform.
