Peru’s Commission for the Constitution and Regulations of Congress Friday rejected a bill presented by the country’s executive branch that seeks to call a referendum to draft a new Constitution.

The proposal was rejected 11-6 in the Commission, made up mostly of legislators belonging to political parties other than President Pedro Castillo’s party, “Peru Libre.” The Commission pointed out that the proposal was incompatible with the constitution, saying that it was contrary to the constitutional principles and values ​​established by the will of the constituent power.

In an interview given to Peruvian news agency Andina, Commission President Patricia Juarez said:

It would be a situation of uncertainty for all Peruvians [to approve the project]. What we want is for the government to be absolutely concerned about the issues that are a priority for Peruvians, such as job creation and health.

Before the decision of the Congressional commission was announced, important statements began to emerge from members of the Government. For example, in an interview given to El Peruano, the President of the Council of Ministers, Anibal Torres, said:

Congress has already resolved and ruled on this issue. We will see what the population will do, but we have complied with a mandate from the population, pronounced in the decentralized councils of ministers.

Peru’s Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Felix Chero Medina, asserted that shelving a constitutional reform project of this nature shows that Congress legislates with its back to the citizens.