Senate President Basilio “Bachi” Núñez responded this Monday (18) to criticism from internal movements of the National Republican Association (ANR) and the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) that question the reliability of the electronic voting machines. In statements, Núñez suggested that the objections are a political strategy to “open the umbrella” ahead of a possible defeat in the next elections.
“Now questioning seems more like we are losing the game and want to open the umbrella. And whoever is going to win is not afraid,” said the legislator, referring to dissident sectors of the ANR linked to Senator Lilian Samaniego (Causa Republicana) and senators from the PLRA, such as Celeste Amarilla and Ever Villalba.
Núñez reiterated his confidence in the work of the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal (TSJE) and stated that there are no objective elements to delegitimize the current electronic voting system. According to him, installing suspicions before elections “is harmful to democracy” and generates uncertainty among citizens. The Senate President also recalled that political parties already have official representatives and attorneys with legal standing to participate in audits and controls of the electoral process, but that several sectors did not attend the official calls.
Amid the debate, Núñez announced that he is working on a bill to modify the system of open lists. The proposal envisions moving from a single preferential vote to a “double unlocking” scheme, which would allow voters to choose up to two candidates within the same list. “I am working on a bill so that citizens have the possibility to unlock two candidates,” he explained.
Additionally, Núñez supported the initiative of independent Senator Eduardo Nakayama to start a purge in Congress to review the situation of employees who receive bonuses linked to academic degrees of dubious legitimacy. The Senate President stated that the Legislature cannot remain on the sidelines of an internal review of the validity of degrees and possible irregularities, recalling that Congress employees have not received bonuses for academic degrees since the implementation of the salary matrix.