Brazilian House representative Doctor Rosinha, who is the president of the Mercosur Parliament defends the idea that Brazil should have four times more representatives in the parliament than Paraguay and Uruguay. He argues that since Brazil has a population of 187 million, it should have 75 representatives, Argentina 33 and Paraguay and Uruguay, 18 each.
"With equal representation for all full Mercosur members, it is impossible for Brazil and Argentina to represent their peoples, which are larger," said the legislator from the Workers Party (PT), the ruling party of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Rosinha represents the soy bean and livestock rich state of Paraná in southern Brazil.
Paraguay and Uruguay on the other hand argue that the four countries must have the same number of seats in the Mercosur Parliament. The controversy has been going on for the last two years, and no understanding has been reached yet.
Rosinha said it has become "vital" the issue be decided in the first few months of 2009 so Brazil can include the election of its Paralasur (Parlamento del Mercosur) members for the presidential elections of 2010.
Currently the Brazilian members of Congress representing Mercosur's largest member are doing so on an honorary basis, and have no advisors, since no budget for those purposes was voted.
"You need to have an office structure; you can't depend on the cellular phone to legislate," emphasized Rosinha who proposed future members of the Mercosur Parliament be given an US$ 8.000 monthly diet.
Mercosur
