MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Deputies test positive for COVID-19, voting postponed

The Constitution grants Deputies the right to attend the House whether vaccinated or not, Paulsen said

Two Chilean lawmakers have been tested positive for COVID-19 in the Lower House, thus affecting a key voting process scheduled for this Tuesday, it was reported.

In light of the new tests, four Deputies must now remain in quarantine as a result of the first case, while it was determined that as a result of the second case the entire PS (Socialist Party) bloc must undergo a PCR test and remain in isolation until Wednesday.

Lower House Speaker Diego Paulsen pointed out that one of the infected lawmakers is not fully vaccinated.

“We have asked them that the PCR can be undertaken tomorrow (Tuesday) and, this way, we are going to discuss the projects on Tuesday, as was established, but we are not going to vote on them so as not to alter the quorum,” Paulsen said.

Regarding the unvaccinated lawmaker, Paulsen argued that there was a difference between members of Parliament and ordinary citizens, “because the Constitution establishes the constitutional right of parliamentarians to attend and be able to vote in the Chamber of the Chamber of Deputies.”

“I have no way to prevent a parliamentarian who does not have their full dose from attending the House,” added Paulsen, who also pointed out that the House would vote on Wednesday on the initiatives which should have been voted on Tuesday, so as to preserve the Socialist Party's representation.