MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguayan lawmaker presides over Mercosur Parliament

Mercosur headquaters in Montevideo

In the first session of the year the Mercosur Parliament seated in Montevideo, Uruguay, nominated as its pro tempore president the Paraguayan lawmaker Ignacio Mendoza Unzain.

It was also agreed to name one lawmaker from each of the other full members of the South American trade block to the Mercosur Parliament committee. The next session is scheduled for March. Mendoza Unzain will chair the Mercosur parliament for the next six months, similarly with the committee. The Paraguayan legislator was deputy chair of the Mercosur parliament in the second half of last year under the presidency of Brazilian representative Florisvaldo Fier. In the first half of last year, Parlasur Senator Jose Pampuro from Argentina acted as president. The Parlasur chair rotates every six months as does the committee and can only be filled with representatives from Mercosur full members, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Associate member countries can representatives can assist but have no voice or vote in debates. The Mercosur Parliament committee has been integrated by José Pampero from Argentina; Dr. Rosinha from Brazil and Juan Jose Dominguez representing Uruguay.