The National Assembly of Panama has approved amendments to its Internal Regulations. According to the new rules, committees must meet at least once a week, totaling four times a month. Committee President Dana Castañeda stated that this would justify their productivity. If this requirement is not met, the committee president cannot be re-elected for the next term. Currently, some committees meet infrequently, while others have busier agendas requiring subcommittee work. It was also decided to establish an Investigation Committee, which will begin its work within 90 days and will be accredited as binding. This figure did not previously exist. Furthermore, for deputies who do not justify their absence from plenary sessions, a day's salary will be deducted. A fine for absence will be one month's salary, and it will be doubled for subsequent absences. These adjustments are part of the second block of revisions to the Internal Regulation. The third block, starting with Article 86, deals with ordinary and extraordinary sessions, from Monday to Wednesday from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM and on Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The Education, Culture and Sports Committee will be expanded to include Technology, and the Government Committee will also take on Human Rights issues.
