Uruguay's legislators pass protocol to establish Mercosur parliament
Uruguay's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, on Wednesday ratified a protocol on establishing a parliament of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), with ruling coalition deputies all voting in favor and the opposition entirely against.
 
The protocol has already been passed by the upper house, the Senate, and now only need the approval by Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez.

The ruling Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition said the parliament is just one more step toward the integration of Mercosur, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela.

Julio Maria Sanguinetti, a former president who leads the opposition Colorado Party, said it is naive to think that a body based on discussion could solve Mercosur's problems.

The proposed parliament will be based in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, with 18 deputies from each nation. It will not pass transnational laws for the moment.