The Electoral Court (TE) ruled this Thursday, after the statements of the entity’s presiding magistrate, Heriberto Araúz during his presentation at the Budget Commission of the National Assembly, who made reference to the economic resources that they require and in which people who aspire to a popularly elected position may incur, not only by free postulation but also by political parties, in addition to the license payment per mobile device of $36.00 per year, for those who decide to use it.
According to the TE, all citizens have the right to participate in the exercise of their political rights to elect and be elected, regardless of their economic position; however, the same society has demanded that private financing be regulated by putting limits on both pre-candidates and candidates by free application and political parties and that these resources be disclosed so that public opinion knows who finances whom.
At the same time, the entity, through a statement, recalled that the expenses and activities provided for and permitted by Decree 29 of 2022, regulations of the General Election of May 5, 2024, for pre-candidates by free application during the collection period of signatures are:
During the initial period of collecting signatures, finance with own resources or with donations within the limits of article 245 of the Electoral Code the following expenses (articles 50, 51 and 52 of the Regulatory Decree of the General Elections):
- Recruitment of personnel (instructors, activists) and payment of their fees
- Sweaters, hats with photo and badge to the recruited personnel
- Cover transportation, food and lodging expenses for said personnel
- Mobilize the people who will provide their signature or support to the TE offices
- Among others.
During the final signature collection period, they may, in addition to the activities described above, pay for electoral propaganda through the means of dissemination identified in article 260 of the Electoral Code.
According to article 245 of the Electoral Code for the pre-campaign, all pre-candidates, whether from political parties or by free candidacy, will have as income and expenses a third of the limit established for the campaign described in article 244 of the Electoral Code, of which up to a third may be used in electoral propaganda.
The Electoral Tribunal, aware of the economic resources that pre-candidates demand for free nomination, and those of political parties, the exercise of political activities for the general election makes available to them, at no direct cost to them and citizenship, in other public services provided by the institution, the User Service Center (CAU), multi-service kiosks throughout the country, the application developed specifically for mobile devices used to collect signatures or register adherents in political parties; manual books in places where there is no internet connectivity, and extended hours in our offices on weekdays and weekends.
It should be remembered that on Wednesday afternoon, while the TE magistrates supported part of the institution’s budget and were approached by deputies who make up the Budget Commission, magistrate Araúz declared: “he who does not have money (to pay for a license) It is better that he not be in politics, because whoever is in politics knows that this costs money and that it is necessary to invest”.
