July 22, 2024, 9:45 PM
July 22, 2024, 9:45 PM
Amidst setbacks and constant suspensions, the oral examination phase of the preselection process for candidates for the judicial elections is about to conclude. However, The work is done amidst doubts and fears that work may be suspended again at any time. Nevertheless, it is expected that the interviews will be completed by Wednesday, July 24.
And these fears are not far from reality, since, in the last few hours, the candidate for the Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP), Pablo Christian Zuleta Sanchez, filed an appeal before the Joint Constitutional Commission, because according to him, the questions and answers to three of the questions he was asked were “poorly formulated” and this caused him to be deducted 60 points out of 100. According to the applicant, his answers should have given him a perfect score of 100 out of 100.
“They have taken 60 points from me that I deserved and my grade should be 100%,” Zuleta told the press and reported that because of these questions, poorly formulated, in his opinion, he filed an objection to the Joint Constitutional Commission.
What does the applicant intend to achieve with this action? seeks that the Joint Commission retract the score it received and must ask the entity that prepared the questions to justify the answers to said questions. “In the event that the (Joint Constitutional) Commission acknowledges these errors, in a public act, In a public session, give me the grade that corresponds to me“, insisted lawyer Zuleta.
In this regard, the president of that commission, Senator Miguel Rejas (MAS), pointed out that Legislators are not responsible for questions and answers, since they were prepared by universities and entities that bring together the country’s lawyers.
“It is not our responsibility, More is the responsibility of universities who have asked the questions and answered them,” said the legislator and then also argued that when asking the questions, the candidates who do not agree with them, give their reasons as to why they think they are poorly formulated and that their answers are correct.
Meanwhile, Senator Adolfo Flores of the MAS agreed with his colleague Rejas and said that, at this point, “there’s nothing left to do”, and that if he had any observations he should have presented them at the time of his evaluation.
“It is the Commission that defines, at the time, “If he makes him take out another ball so he can answer another question, if he considers that (the first one) is wrong,” Flores told Radio Panamericana.
The legislator gave as an example that a candidate for the Agro-Environmental Court observed a question because it cited the number of an article of the Political Constitution that did not match the topic in question. The legislators noted the error and the candidate was able to get another ticket and answer another question.
Intense work in the commissions
The Joint Committees on Constitution and Plural Justice They meet from Friday, July 19, according to time and subject matterwith intermediate rooms only for eating and going to sleep, then they return to their rooms to examine almost 400 applicants in total.
Till the date, The Joint Constitutional Commission evaluated the TCP candidates and the oral exam for those aspiring to the Supreme Court of Justice began. Meanwhile, in the Joint Commission of Plural Justice, Those applying to the Council of the Judiciary took their examsand interviews for candidates for the Agro-Environmental Court immediately began.
According to Senator Flores, who is part of this commission, they have been qualified In total there were 66 applicants out of 84 people that were enabled.
“Four have resigned and approximately 14 have not shown up (to take their exam). Although it is not official, I understand that Approximately 17 or 18 candidates have been approved for the Council of the Judiciary and according to the regulations we must send a minimum of 10 (applicants) with gender parity: five men and five women, and a maximum of 20 applicants,” Flores explained, also on Radio Panamericana.
However, the official report of how many have made it to the final phase will be announced in the coming days.
Since 08:00 on Monday, this Joint Commission began to evaluate the candidates for the Agro-Environmental Court, which are around 40 candidates. According to the regulations, The Commission must have a minimum of 14 approved applicants and a maximum of 28, because “there are five starters and five substitutes.” The Joint Committee is expected to finish the oral evaluation on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Joint Constitutional Commission provides for conclude the oral exams for the group of TSJ candidates by Wednesday July 24 and between Thursday and Friday of this week, prepare the report, which must be approved by two thirds in the full commission and then sent to the presidency of the Legislative Assembly.
Final report
“Most likely, for Next week, between Monday and Tuesday, we will have the final report ready. with the final phase of questions so that the Assembly can approve with two thirds,” reported Senator Miguel Rejas, president of said legislative body.
Although this process is taking place without any further setbacks, Deputy Luisa Nayar (CC) expressed her doubts that it will be concluded, since There is a risk and fear that it may be suspended again due to some judicial action or ruling.
“Personally, I have no certainty that the process will be concluded normally (…) I do not believe in the good faith of the MAS, There is a latent risk and fear that these gentlemen will once again truncate this pre-selection process,” said Nayar.
