MAS conflict impacts the electoral calendar; Judicial proceedings are postponed

Another delay. The judicial elections, set for December 1 after sorting out legal actions and political decisions, now change dates. The Plenary Chamber of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) announced last night the decision to postpone them until December 15. ¿The reason? The social conflicts originated in the dispute for control of the MAS.

The collegiate body justified this determination due to the “social conflict” that the country is experiencing. In fact, the country woke up today with about 20 roadblocks, especially in Cochabamba, carried out by citizens who follow former president Evo Morales, who faces the MAS government led by Luis Arce. Of course, the former president also faces a complaint for abusing a teenager eight years ago.

The TSE, which did not refer to these details of the “social conflict” that the country is experiencing, presented the electoral deferral after an evaluation made by the members in the framework of the plenary session that they held last night.

The statement from the electoral institution indicates that an evaluation was made of compliance with the electoral calendar and ongoing activities, as well as the number of blockades that prevent the displacement of officials from the electoral body and logistics.

According to the TSE, the “social conflict known to public opinion has a decisive impact on the development normal of the activities scheduled in the electoral calendar”, for example, the act of drawing lots for electoral juries, designating electoral notaries, notification and training of electoral juries, among others. “We trust that through dialogue and consultation, social problems will be resolved in the shortest possible time,” adds the TSE.

The electoral calendar had foreseen the drawing of electoral jurors this Friday and, in this context, the publication of the names of those citizens designated for the verification that is now postponed again.

The next nationwide elections had been called to elect 23 senior authorities of the Judicial Branch, but with a year of delay due to because the mandate of the authorities who still remain in office expired at the end of 2023.

The magistrates of the Constitutional Court chose to extend their duties indefinitely or until the new authorities are elected through popular and universal vote.

Seven days ago, the TSE made official that the electoral roll will be made up of 7.3 million votersa figure that exceeds half of the citizens counted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) with the application of the Population and Housing Census of March 23, 2024.

Aside from this postponement, the judicial elections are still threatened by at least 47 demands that were raised by postponed candidates before the Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP).

“As long as the Constitutional Court does not rule, I believe that there is a high risk to the course of the electoral process”declared a few days ago the acting president of the TSE, Francisco Vargas. Then he recalled that the entity overcame several judicial obstacles that arose since the process was put in charge.

At least 47 legal actions were filed against the judiciary by people who considered that their rights were violated when candidates were not selected.

The TSE was disclosing the merits of the candidates for magistrates because they cannot do so in isolation or privately.

This Sunday the names of those selected as jurors should have been published.