The Chamber of Deputies announced on Tuesday the election of María Elena Vásquez as a member of the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (Procompetencia), replacing Yolanda Martínez, the outgoing president.
“The project of the Executive Branch for the appointment of the new member of Procompetencia is approved, on the occasion of the expiration of the corresponding elective period that ends in September 2021,” read a message posted on the Twitter account of the Lower House of the National Congress.
They also reported that only one deputy opposed the appointment, although they did not reveal the identity of the legislator. In the end, the proposal scored 113 yeses against a single “no”.
During candidate interviews, the members of the permanent commission in charge of this process praised Vásquez’s curriculum, who is also the daughter of the Minister of the Interior and Police Jesús “Chu” Vásquez.
Her nomination was produced by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, and due to her condition as the minister’s daughter, she generated controversy and contrary reactions.
Later, she was elected by this commission to lead a shortlist to replace Martínez, which was complemented by Fior D’Aliza Alduey and Dangela Ramírez Guzmán.
Nevertheless, the decision was received with criticism of nepotism, to which the deputies behind the election justified their recommendation ensuring that María Elena was the most qualified person for the position.
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