The electoral campaign in Guatemala for the general elections of June 25 has started with fights between parties; Both are accused of destroying propaganda and hindering the use of public space.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) processes the complaints that arrive from all the parties in contention, and has already reached an agreement so that when they return from the Easter holidays they agree on a “National Ethical Pact”, to be signed on April 11 .
The electoral authority called on social networks for “high-level political campaigns to be carried out, for organizations to make proposals and not attacks.”
This, given the heated spirits of leaders and supporters of the groups and the struggles over local government decisions to limit the use of public space, the TSE called a meeting on Thursday to discuss the matter.
The presiding magistrate of the TSE, Irma Palencia, said during the meeting that the commitment of the political parties has been achieved to carry out a clean electoral campaign and for the general secretaries of the parties to sign the pact.
“It will be very important, we would not like the name of any of their organizations not to be there later because we are going to publish the parties that committed themselves today,” said the official.
Fights over poles and public spaces
The plenary session of magistrates will also issue a pronouncement to prevent municipal officials from destroying propaganda of political parties placed on public lighting poles; because some municipalities have created ordinances to prevent this type of proselytism, in many cases to the detriment of their opponents.
The reformed electoral law prevents It is up to the municipal councils to attribute these powers, explained the TSE.
However, Judge Gabriel Aguilera said that the plenary session has already discussed this matter, but by establishing a joint position they will also clarify the exceptions that lead to “how to protect cultural heritage and fake tourist cities.”
The party of President Alejandro Giammattei, Vamos, has complained through its representative Héctor Aldana that in opposition municipalities they have destroyed and withdrawn their propaganda.
“They destroy our propaganda, they take it from us without any justification; Right now we are filing revocation appeals against some municipal corporations,” Aldana complained during the meeting, according to Guatemalan media.
Others accused the ruling party of covering up the propaganda that they hit previously, as did the Republican Union party. “In our case, they have superimposed advertising on us,” said their representative Edgar Vásquez, who added that they also deliberately cover the party flag “to make them invisible.”
To this is added the altercations in the interior of the country between sympathizers of the different parties.
In the next elections, the president of the republic, the 160 deputies of the National Congress and 340 mayors and municipal councils of the country where 9.3 million Guatemalans have been summoned to vote will be elected.
The TSE arbitrates this electoral fair with low credibility among citizens in the face of successive complaints of impartiality to direct the electoral process.
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