Constitutionalist lawyer Tomás Jordán criticized the Party of the People (PDG) for committing its support to the 'Miscellaneous Law' before the detailed legislative debate began in Congress, warning that the move reduces the party's bargaining power with the government.
Speaking in an interview with Al Pan Pan with Mirna Schindler, Jordán argued that the PDG moved too quickly to endorse the project. According to elmostrador.cl, the academic pointed out that in political terms, it is standard practice to wait for the progress of the legislative process before setting definitive positions.
Jordán explained that a critical element of the project is its status of extreme urgency. This status means the bill is processed 'in general and in particular at the same time,' according to the report.
Because of this dual process, the most significant discussions occur during the specific analysis of individual regulations rather than the initial approval of the concept.
“The approval of the idea to legislate is too early for the discussion that is just beginning and that will necessarily be negotiated, phrase by phrase, article by article,” Jordán said, as reported by elmostrador.cl.
Loss of legislative leverage
Jordán believes the early endorsement creates a disadvantage for the party. He noted that by offering support upfront, the PDG has essentially provided the Executive branch with a safety net.
“If you offer your approval, the government already has an insurance policy,” Jordán stated.
Drawing from political experience, the lawyer noted that negotiations typically intensify during the final stages of the legislative process. This is the moment when the government must secure the necessary votes to pass the bill.
“A traditional politician waits until the end for the negotiation, not before, because they know that at some point the government has to seek votes to approve its project,” Jordán said.
Jordán suggested that the PDG could have exerted more influence over specific provisions, such as tax reductions or maintenance for SMEs, or other economic relief measures.
“If you had waited for a better strategic moment, your negotiating capacity would have increased,” he concluded, according to elmostrador.cl.
