With a suggestive image, the director of the Electoral Registry of the TSJE published that she is accompanied by former president Horacio Cartes and presidential candidate Santiago Peña, immersing the institution in questionable credibility, which is supposed to be exempt from any partisan position.
“We started 2022 with a great desire to work for a prosperous Paraguay. Here with former president Horacio Cartes and the presidential candidate Dr. Santiago Peña”, the director of the Electoral Registry of the Supreme Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE), María Teresa Peralta, posted on her Twitter account, attaching a photo with the two people mentioned above.
The director was criticized after the publication, even more so considering her position within the TSJE. However, she stressed that this type of images is not counterproductive because her position is political.
“I find myself performing my position on behalf of the Colorado Party. In fact, the formation of the members of the TSJE is eminently political, beginning with the integration of the ministers”, indicated Peralta.
Maria Theresa Peralta
Likewise, he mentioned that the Electoral Registry is in charge of the Colorado Party because this is the most important party in the country and the one with the largest electoral flow, reiterating again that everyone is playing a role in the TSJE because they are politicians and do politics.
With respect to Law 1626/2000 of the public function, which among all the prohibitions established for the official, in one of its subsections expressly highlights that he cannot accept a public manifestation of adhesion, tribute or gifts from his subordinates, for reasons referred to the position while it is in exercise of the same.
However, the director of the Electoral Registry indicated that the law does not apply to the members of the TSJE because they have a very different operation and focus clearly on political guidelines.
Trying to contact the ministers of the TSJE, none gave a response to the queries of the El Independiente team. Speaking with the communication area of the institution, they informed us that the adviser Luis Alberto Mauro is the designated spokesperson to speak on the subject, but he himself replied in an obfuscated manner that we should only speak with the director of the Registry; when we wanted to contact him again, she cut our call. We are attentive to any form of communication with our environment.
Pilar Callizo
Lawyer Pilar Callizo stressed that she does not understand what Director Peralta is referring to when she states that Law 1626 does not apply to the TSJE, since within it there is no exception that indicates said clarification in a textual manner, also informing that the only officials for whom the regulation is not established, it corresponds to the ministers and deputy ministers of the Executive Power.
“He has no concept of what common sense is. Practically everything that is established in ethical terms, as well as the commitments, show you that what she said is nonsense and even her statements seem cynical, ”argued the lawyer.
In effect, Callizo stated that it is totally incoherent to invoke his alleged detachment from any political sector and at the same time make public his support for certain candidates, groups or political parties.
“It only remains for him to resign or to be asked to resign. There is no exception, that is not expressed in Law 1626, but regardless of the regulations, common sense tells you that if you occupy such a delicate position, you cannot be flagged in a political line, “said the lawyer, also alleging the need independence from the TSJE is essential for any democratic process.
