Slow progress of the vote count in El Salvador after a day that started late

First modification: 03/01/2021 – 04:05

Most of the 1,595 voting centers in El Salvador closed their doors at 5:00 p.m. local time, despite the fact that in some schools the queues were still considerable. The day began late in many voting points in an election in which Salvadorans elected the 84 deputies of the Legislative Assembly and the 262 mayors of the country.

More than 5.3 million Salvadorans were summoned this Sunday to elect 84 deputies to the Legislative Assembly, 262 municipal councils and 20 representatives in the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). After the closing of the schools, the Vote Receiving Boards began to count the ballots.

This Sunday, February 28, El Salvador will hold its elections to the Legislative Assembly, the municipal councils and the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). © Supreme Electoral Tribunal of El Salvador

Polls predict that the party supported by incumbent President Nayib Bukele, New Ideas, could win more than 50% of the total votes and enough seats to win a simple majority in Congress.

The fact worries human rights defense organizations that consider that with this the president will be able to govern without opposition and approve any initiative.

Bukele would need just 43 votes to approve ordinary decisions and 56 to make profound reforms.

Bukele’s call to “finish off” what started in February 2019

Despite the electoral silence that should rule the day in the country, Bukele – who seeks to consolidate his power with a legislative majority – called on his followers to carry out the “auction operation” against his opponents. In a press conference, the president urged to “finish” what he considers began with his presidential victory on February 9, 2019.

“Let’s finish closing what we started that day by achieving a Legislative Assembly that works hand in hand with the Government,” he said. “I want to call this auction operation this afternoon,” he continued to later ask “the population that has not come out to vote to carry out the auction operation” and “flood the (voting) centers, fill those ballot boxes and mark the future “.

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, here at a public event in San Salvador on February 22, 2021, aspires to consolidate his power with a legislative majority MARVIN RECINOS AFP / Archives

Bukele also accused the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of alleged fraudulent maneuvers in these elections to affect the New Ideas party and welcomed the high turnout despite the inconveniences.

“So far the turnout is quite high compared to other electoral events, although outside the voting centers there were queues of 500, 1,000 and 1,500 people, a deliberate turtle step, obviously, to try to lower the vote,” he said.

The electoral body opens a process against Bukele for propaganda on voting day

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) considered that Bukele’s press conference constituted an offense against the article that prohibits propaganda during electoral silence. Therefore, the electoral body decided to open an administrative process against the president.

Members of the Salvadoran Armed Forces enter the Legislative Assembly during a protest outside Congress in San Salvador, on February 9, 2020 MARVIN RECINOS AFP / Archives

According to the TSE, the conference “involves the purpose of influencing the intention (to vote) of citizens so that they electorally support candidates and parties related to the Government.” “It also aims to prevent opposition party candidates from gaining more sympathy or losing their wealth of electoral support,” they added in a resolution.

With EFE and Reuters.

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source https://pledgetimes.com/slow-progress-of-the-vote-count-in-el-salvador-after-a-day-that-started-late/