Election donations, invitation to theft

A $350.000 cap  on private donations  for candidates in the  2019 campaign is immoral and an invitation to theft says ex- Electoral Tribunal (TE)  judge and member of the National Commission of Electoral Reforms  (CNRE) Guillermo Márquez Amado.

The $350,000  figure has been endorsed by the  sitting members of different parties and is to be approved this week.

The CNRE proposal of  a limit of 50 cents per voter

for the private financing of the campaigns was moved to the trash can.

“This cap is excessive, it is an invitation to theft, because those who going to donate

To  the deputies, will then  then ask them to somehow give them back that money, either with favors in the Assembly or with the diversion of public funds to these people, “said  Márquez Amado.

He said  that with the cap for private donations, the only ones that are disadvantaged are deputies representing indigenous area where  citizens, not have two pennies to rub together.

“The cap is an immorality by itself, it is a robbery, there should not even be private donations said the ex-judge

According to legislative sources and members of organizations that have participated in the debate in

Assembly, the proposal of gender parity will not be approved reports La Prensa.

Another proposal of the CNRE that will undergo adjustments will be the one that disqualifies  candidates who distribute gifts  to voters during campaigns.

Instead of disqualification, there will be a challenge if that candidate wins the election.