Following the public request from the president of the National Election Jury (JNE), Roberto Burneoso that the Executive Branch grants more resources to guarantee the normal development of the elections scheduled for next year – general, regional and councillors -, the prime minister Ernesto Alvarez met with the head of the electoral maximum “to learn about the progress and technical requirements of the electoral process on April 12 of next year,” it was reported from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM).
In the middle of the week, Burneo – upon leaving the Congress of the Republic – warned that there is a deficit of resources for the electoral system made up of the JNE, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) and the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec).
“As a Jury we have been requesting resources to guarantee a normal development of the electoral process and that is not being given to us. The deficit is 553 million soles – in the case of the JNE -; without them we will not be able to execute all the electoral processes during the year. In general elections there is a deficit of more than half of the budget that we need. Therefore, when I say that the electoral processes are at risk it is because there are not the resources to execute them,” he explained.
Today, the president of the Council of Ministers, Ernesto Álvarez, stated that holding the elections constitutes a priority axis of the current administration.
“From the Presidency of the Council of Ministers we reiterate the commitment of the Government of President José Jerí to guarantee transparent and correct elections, with full electoral legitimacy. Our country deserves a climate of harmony and we work so that these elections are a historical milestone that leaves confrontation behind. (…) The State acts in a coordinated manner, without selfishness or labels, to provide confidence to the country,” he said.
According to reports, during the meeting the premier expressed to the head of the National Election Jury the willingness of the Executive to ensure the operational and budgetary conditions that allow the electoral system to carry out its functions with total autonomy and transparency.
In addition, he highlighted the need to maintain “articulated and permanent work that guarantees strict compliance with the schedule and provides all guarantees to citizens and candidates.”
“The head of the PCM stressed that the Government promotes the strengthening of the State’s intelligence capacity to confront possible situations of violence linked to the electoral context, in order to safeguard social peace and act preventively against criminal organizations,” they indicated.
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