Jose Williams: “There was already a buffet in Congress before the pandemic, it just resumed”

Congress President, Joseph Williamsspoken today, Monday, according to a recent Sunday newspaper report fourth force that parliamentarians have access to a buffet lunch and dinner, in addition to breakfast paid for by the Legislative Budget.

For this reason, the owner parliament indicated that this buffet had already been given before pandemic and that, with the addition of 12 December, it has only been renewed. In addition, he claimed that this only happened during the meeting Full.

“Before the pandemic, it was already buffet in Congress suspended due to the pandemic. Congressmen get it buffet only when it comes to a plenary session,” he said.

He also emphasized that this advantage is due to the fact that congressmen are in session. “from 9 am or 10 am.” and they stay “until 22:00, 23:00”.

“Every other day they pay for the ration they consume, and it is 25 soles. We are back to give buffet as it was before and only when there will be a plenary session,” he said.

The above-mentioned Sunday paper reported that each MP spent 80 sols on the buffet alone, which is a total of 25,000 sols per day among all congressmen. However, some of them indicated that they only drink coffee or mineral water from the indicated buffet ready.

“If congressmen only drink coffee, that’s their problem (…) This was done before pandemic and what has been done is to return (renew),” he said.

Finally, the head of Congress indicated that snacks are also provided from this budget. journalists who covered the plenary session.

“With the same budget, other requirements are also met, for example, journalists. When a plenary session is held, they are given two snacks a day. Everything is within the contract,” he said.

Alejandro Rospigliosi: “This has never happened in Congress”

When asked if parliamentarians had previously had a buffet table, the constitutional lawyer Alexander Rospigliosi He pointed out that there has never been such a thing in Congress.

“In December 2022, a food contract for two million soles was signed. This has never happened before in Congress. Congressmen, like any government official, have the right to a canteen, to pay for the menu from their own pocket. Snacking is part of his working day,” he explained.

“The contract worth over S$2 million was awarded by the current senior officer, who is a knowledgeable gastronomy businessman who should know the amounts are unrealistic and unacceptable,” he added.

In this sense, rospigliosi He noted that by this action the parliamentarians demonstrate “unacceptable dystopian behavior” and that they live “in a fictitious society.”

“Now corresponds to what Comptroller General of the Republicwho has an internal representative draw up a report and make immediate decisions. In parallel, there should be a loss of confidence in the senior officer, because such behavior cannot be tolerated in a situation like the current one,” he said.