The COE plans to urge the CNE to eliminate electoral fines for flood-affected provinces, a move criticized by legal experts as contravening electoral law. Analyst Melania Carrión argues it is a politically motivated action by President Noboa to influence voter behavior.
On Wednesday, the Emergency Operations Committee (COE) announced plans to urge the National Electoral Council (CNE) to cease imposing economic sanctions on Ecuadorians living in flood-affected provinces. This proposal aligns with the reelection aspirations of the President, who previously expressed intentions to waive fines in these areas.
Melania Carrión, a lawyer and political scientist, asserts that this general exoneration of fines contravenes established electoral laws. In remarks made on Radio Pichincha, she clarified that the CNE does not have the authority to alter electoral guidelines at this time.
Carrión further described Noboa’s proposal as a politically motivated maneuver intended to influence voter behavior in his favor. She interpreted it as an effort to gain favor among certain groups, while also aiming to manipulate and condition the electoral process.
In summary, the Emergency Operations Committee’s call to exempt electoral fines for flood-affected regions has raised legal concerns. Analysts argue that altering these sanctions contravenes electoral law, and such actions may be driven by political motives aimed at influencing voter turnout. This situation highlights the complexities surrounding electoral regulations amid emergencies.
Original Source: www.plenglish.com
