Senate to Form Shortlist for Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller on Thursday

The Senate is set to hold an extraordinary session this Thursday to establish a shortlist of candidates for the positions of Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller General of the Republic. This session is a key step in the process of appointing individuals to these crucial oversight roles.

The ruling party, known as "cartismo," has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to announce its proposed candidates. In contrast, the opposition bloc is still in the process of defining its nominees, highlighting a potential divergence in political strategies.

While the Constitutional Affairs Commission of the Senate has submitted a list of 36 candidates, sources indicate that Camilo Benítez is highly likely to be reappointed as Comptroller General. His current tenure suggests a strong possibility of continuation in the role.

For the Deputy Comptroller position, reports suggest that Armindo Torres, the current director of Legal Affairs at the Comptroller's office, might be chosen. This potential appointment comes from within the "cartista" sector, signaling internal party deliberations.

Basilio “Bachi” Núñez, the head of Congress, confirmed that the plenary session will propose the names for the shortlist, requiring an absolute majority of 23 votes for any designation. The opposition, led by figures like Yolanda Paredes, is being urged to finalize their candidate choices and commit to a specific nominee. Meanwhile, Dionisio Amarilla announced his bloc would support liberal candidacies, despite the Liberal Party's request for candidates to withdraw their applications.