TSJE warns that it will be implacable against officials who proselytize

The director of Political Financing of the Superior Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE), Christian Ruiz Díaz, reaffirmed that the institution will apply ruthless sanctions to officials who violate the duty of impartiality during the electoral process. He referred to disciplinary measures taken in two recent cases involving election workers.

One of them is that of the permanent official César Ortega González, subjected to an administrative summary after photographs were disseminated in which he appears participating in proselytizing activities in favor of the Yo Creo candidate, Daniel Pereira Mujica. According to Ruiz Díaz, the formal complaint also revealed that Ortega was present at polling stations in Ciudad del Este on November 8 and 9, despite the fact that he had to perform duties at the Caaguazú district office.

The Superintendency of Electoral Justice confirmed his absence from work and verified that he even carried an “election observer” credential, a figure that was not enabled by the institution in this election. For this reason, the TSJE decided to temporarily remove him from office while the summary process progresses, in which he must present his defenses.

The other case corresponds to the contracted official Nubia Asunción Casartelli Oreggioni, captured on November 9 while expressing support for Senator Javier Zacarías Irún during election day, wearing an institutional vest from the Accessible Vote program. Since it was conduct considered serious and since he was on official duties at that time, the Electoral Justice resolved his immediate dismissal.

Ruiz Díaz recalled that article 5 of the Electoral Code requires absolute impartiality from electoral officials, especially when they are carrying out official duties. He pointed out that, in the case of Ortega, the summary will allow determining the seriousness of the offense and reviewing whether there is a precedent, which could lead to sanctions ranging from suspension without pay to dismissal.

“The commitment of the TSJE is clear: no official can engage in proselytizing while exercising electoral functions,” he pointed out.

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