The court also orders the private and public media to suspend the broadcast of spots or images related to the inauguration of the bypass at the port of La Libertad.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) reported Monday evening that a few days before municipal and parliamentary elections, it had ordered the suspension of government advertising on the recently inaugurated port of La Libertad bypass.
The election body indicated through its Twitter account that “an ex officio electoral sanction proceeding has been initiated for the alleged violation of Article 178 of the Electoral Code”, which sets the ban 30 days before the elections, and has taken some precautions in this regard.
This article of the electoral rules states: “During the thirty days prior to the date of the elections, neither the government of the republic nor the municipal councils and other autonomous entities may publish the contracts in private or state media, inaugurations of national infrastructure works or of any other nature which they have performed, which they carry out or which they intend to perform in accordance with the provision or auxiliary services to which the State is obliged ”.
ALSO READ: The TSE will evaluate sanctions for inauguration of works in a government election campaign
According to the TSE resolution, “the basis for the commencement of the procedure is the fact of public awareness, consisting in the inauguration by the President of the Republic of the bypass around La Libertad”
Photo shot from Twitter / @TSEElSalvador
Among the precautions imposed by the institution are: “To order the Presidency of the Republic to refrain from publishing in private or state media the contracts, inaugurations of national infrastructure works or of any other nature that have been carried out, performed or that they intend to carry out in accordance with the presentation or emergency services to which the state is obliged ”.
It also ordered the private and public media (radio, television, written and digital press) to suspend the broadcast of spots or videos related to the work inaugurated last Friday. It also gives them three days to report after being informed about the person responsible for contracting or scheduling the disputed advertising and for how long this has been agreed upon.
MAYBE YOU’RE INTERESTED: TSE Cancels New Ideas Spot That Hinted at Election Fraud
The sanctions process will also be sent to the prosecution service “to ensure compliance with the precautionary measure,” he said.
During the morning interview of Hechos de Canal 12, the TSE magistrate, Julio Olivo, had suggested that they were evaluating possible sanctions for inauguration works a few days after the election.
For the TSE resolution, Javier Castro, director of Legal Studies at Fusades, responded on Twitter Monday evening, deeming the precautionary measure appropriate. He indicated that it is the task of the electoral body to ensure that this is fulfilled. “Now TSE must verify that it is not being infringed and that the same infringement is not being reproduced. There is an urgent need to review the sanctions regime so that it really discourages, ”he said.
Photo shot from Twitter / @TSEElSalvadorCONSULT THE FULL RESOLUTION OF THE TSE