The audit ordered by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to evaluate the creation of committees for the formation of political parties is well regarded by electoral observers, They await a thorough investigation.
Last Wednesday, May 14, the plenary session of TSE magistrates unanimously authorized a proposal brought by Judge Rosa Mariella Rivera, president of the electoral authority, as confirmed by a source.
This suggestion comes before the plenary session of magistrates after, in a meeting of political parties with the TSE authorities, the growth of some committees was questioned.
Official data from the TSE show that the Revolution committees; X Guate; and Chapín have already exceeded the number of 28,083 members, the minimum required for one of these organizations to seek its evolution into a political party.
But they are followed in numbers by the Roots committees, with 27,494, and Dignity, with 25,939, according to Political Organizations with figures updated as of last Tuesday, May 12.
Raíces is the group that was born after the death of the Semilla Movement party, which was already canceled by the Citizen Registry and which was confirmed by a series of rulings issued by the Constitutional Court (CC).
An amparo that seeks to revive the ruling party is currently pending resolution, an action that is in the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) without any apparent progress.
The audit that seeks to measure the growth of all committees does not have an established deadline, but observers comment that although the measure is good, it requires transparency.
“Prudent”
Pedro Cruz, president of Primero Guatemala, one of the organizations monitoring the 2023 elections, considers the measure adopted by the current TSE authorities to be timely.
“This statement tries to prevent the TSE from entering a crisis again, I see it quite well. In Guatemala there is a growing perception of accelerated progress by some organizations, hasty proposals and advanced platforms of supposed campaigns,” said Cruz.
The new TSE began a six-year term on March 19, just a few months before the next call for general elections in 2027, which will be next January.
Taking preventive measures at this time, Cruz said, was a wise decision by the electoral authority, because it prevents the TSE from facing future accusations regarding possible situations that can be resolved with an audit.
“They do it on time, there is no process for calling elections yet. It is worth monitoring, you have to clarify if it should be done, because it is interesting that some parties have thousands of signatures overnight,” he explained.
The observer considers that there have always been doubts about the birth of political parties, which is why he believes that the measure adopted by the TSE is positive, as long as it is accompanied by actions in case questionable elements are found.
“It is good that the TSE strengthens its control mechanisms since the birth of political parties. If it finds a pattern that is not within the legal framework, I believe that it would be necessary to punish whoever needs to be punished and even evaluate personnel changes,” he said.
Detailed
For Guillermo Fuentes, from the analysis and civic training organization Aire, the TSE’s decision seeks to resolve doubts, avoid unnecessary criticism and possible early wear and tear.
He also sees the audit as positive, but sees it as prudent that it not be delayed over time and that the methodology used and the results can be known in detail, so that these data can truly be trusted.
“You have to see the transparency with which the results are made. You have to see that package of documents that are delivered to the TSE, you have to see the admission dates, see if it is done in an orderly manner or if priority is being given to one or some,” he said.
Fuentes clarifies that they are not opposed to the committees, but it has caused him a certain degree of doubt how some increase their membership numbers, when the TSE itself has said that it has few people to process that data, where in addition so many parties and other committees also deliver documents.
“In the last meeting with the TSE, the political parties highlighted this, but the response of Political Organizations was the membership package, but everyone does this and it draws attention because only one or a few grow,” he noted.
Objective
Renzo Rosal, independent political analyst and electoral observer, joins the support of the audit, but emphasizes that it is necessary for this investigation to have, at all times, objectivity, to prevent it from seeking to impede any particular political proposal.
“I am a little concerned that the TSE may be motivated not by an Amia investigation, but rather by seeking to be against a movement like Raíces,” he said.
The previous governing party faced a legal process for its constitution process with false signatures and those of deceased people, according to accusations from the Public Ministry (MP).
“It is not just the issue of signatures, what happened in recent years generated alerts, but we must take advantage of this audit to be able to specify the financing that these committees have,” he indicated.