MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilian wants larger representation in Mercosur parliament

Deputy Doctor Rosinha

The president of the Mercosur Parliament has stated that Brazil should have four times the number of representatives from Paraguay and Uruguay. Deputy Doctor Rosinha argued that since Brazil has a population of 187 million, it should have 75 representatives, Argentina 33 and Paraguay and Uruguay, 18 each.

"With equal representation for all full Mercosur members, it is impossible for Brazil and Argentina to represent their peoples, which are larger", said the Deputy from the ruling party of President Lula da Silva, who represents the soy bean and livestock rich state of Parana in southern Brazil. Paraguay and Uruguay on the other hand argue that the four countries must have the same number of seats in the Mercosur Parliament. The controversy has been going on for the last two years, and no understanding has been reached yet. Rosinha said it has become "vital" the issue be decided in the first few months of 2009 so Brazil can include the election of its Paralasur members for the presidential elections of 2010. Currently the Brazilian members of Congress representing Mercosur's largest member are doing so on an honorary basis, and have no advisors, since no budget for those purposes was voted. "You need to have an office structure; you can't depend on the cellular phone to legislate", emphasized Rosinha who proposed future members of the Mercosur Parliament be given an 8.000 US dollars monthly diet.