There are still two years left for the next electoral event, but apparently some political groups or figures already seek to have advantage. At least that investigates the monitoring and media unit of the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE).
This unit maintains, to date, 57 files open for apparent irregularities of some political organizations in social networks, as confirmed by the TSE Social Communication Department.
The cases are under analysis, so the electoral body cannot specify what political parties and actors are involved in the fifty cases, although they anticipate that some group or particular may have more than an open file.
The electoral authority investigates the apparent promotion of the public figure of some person, which, to date, is an activity not allowed by electoral legislation.
Surveillance during Holy Week
During the current rest period due to Holy Week, the TSE will also have surveillance on the roads. Although the authorities stressed that this face -to -face monitoring plan is active throughout the year, there will be more presence in the points most visited by the Guatemalans in the current season.
“The purpose of monitoring, supervising and conducting administrative investigations with which it seeks to contribute to the establishment of administrative responsibility, which may become non -observance to electoral legislation,” said the TSE Communication Department.
Lack of authority
At the discretion of analysts consulted, the attitudes that the political and individual parties could take could be due to the existence of an inactive TSE, since until just last Friday the electoral authority was reintegrated into full.
“Given a vacuum of authority, because there was no collegiate body of authority that could sanction them, it is evident that political parties incur these circumstances because there were empty,” said Raquel Zelaya, of the Association of Research and Social Studies (ASIES).
But the possible infractions to the electoral norms could be given by the latest reforms to the Electoral Law and of Political Parties (LEPP), since, at the discretion of Christo Walters, of the National Civic Movement (MCN), there were issues that were not accurately defined.
“Much of what we see on electoral issue is a consequence of the reforms approved in 2016, because it was not so clear what is anticipated campaign, what is image positioning and proselytism as such,” he said.
The gaps left by the electoral authorities gave politicians the perfect opportunity to try to violate the legal parameters. At least that thinks Pedro Cruz, a member of First Guatemala.
“This reflects a lack of leadership and weakness of the political system in Guatemala. Especially considering that politicians take advantage of because the sanctions are not severe; with that they seek how to advance in the electoral contest.”
Guillermo Fuentes also, from the Aire Organization, considers that there are politicians who took advantage of the internal crisis of the TSE to evade the law and try to take advantage.
“Although it is said that a couple of years are still missing for the next elections, this is very little time. With the image promotion you have to be careful because that is already in law; the law must be respected.”
Debates are needed
Although it is necessary to avoid the promotion of political figures ahead of time, for the consideration of analysts, it is necessary that political parties leave constant silence, since it is important that they set clear positions to guide citizens about their ideals. Otherwise, a campaign of months is insufficient in the electoral year.
“The actions of the TSE should either have the political debate because there are such tremendous things in the national agenda where the parties should position their views, criteria and proposals. It is one thing to promote a political figure and another is that the parties, based on this, ignore their obligation to set national positions,” said Zelaya.
Any possible sanction imposed by the TSE must be objective, since it is also necessary to give the opportunity to spread political ideas, Walters points out.
“The Guatemalans cannot be attentive only in the year of the elections to see what profiles or characters are being positioned. There must also be freedom of expression that allows the actors to be evaluated, to promote ideas and positions so that citizens know about leadership.”
Fuentes also considers that decisions are clear, to the point of curbing promotions of figures, but not to stop the national political debate, which, in his opinion, is needed in the Guatemalan system.
“What they can be to be known through the work of their political organizations, statutes and positions, but not personally. Do not position yourself as a possible candidate would be to anticipate. Nor should it be so rigid because we avoid that there is opposition. The opposition is not bad, that invites the debate and improve.”
When the authorities impose sanctions or dismiss the files, they will proceed to inform about each case. At the moment, the 57 files will remain under secret.