This Friday, December 13, we submitted a proposal to reform the Electoral and Political Parties Law (LEPP) to the Commission for Electoral Modernization and Update (CAME) of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).
CAME's work requires, before making reform proposals, a review and corrective approach to the last electoral process. If the objective is to modernize the LEPP, the first step must be to review the most recent reforms from 2016 and the actions of the TSE magistrates, which generated a lack of certainty in this year's elections. Among the issues that need to be reviewed are: criteria for disqualifying candidates, changes in criteria when registering turncoats, donations to political parties, and errors in the computation of results. All of this must be re-evaluated to ultimately increase representativeness, participation, and the authority of the electoral body to ensure clear rules and the certainty of mechanisms for democratic quality.
The situation in Guatemala
As a movement, we have identified a serious problem in our country's electoral system. According to data from Latinobarómetro and the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), there is enormous distrust among Guatemalans towards the system. This has resulted from a lack of political representation, which in turn has impacted low citizen participation.
According to one of the questions in the Latinobarómetro survey, Guatemalans do not feel represented by Congress. Three-quarters of the electorate believe that the legislature does not represent them. This is linked to distrust towards the legislature itself and other institutions of representative democracy. The LAPOP report shows that the institutions least trusted by citizens are Congress and political parties. This indicates that electoral reforms must be aimed at reconciling the population with the system so that they feel represented and, as a consequence, have greater confidence. For this reason, electoral systems matter. They are the link that connects the electorate's preferences with the political decisions made by governments, therefore, there must be mechanisms that bring representatives and the represented closer together.
Our proposal
Problems in Guatemalan democracy are related to representation and trust in institutions. Therefore, electoral reform must be aimed at improving the representation felt by citizens and increasing their participation, which can only be possible under clear rules that are complied with and guaranteed by a competent electoral authority.
The elements related to representativeness, participation, and electoral authority that are relevant and must be reformed are:
- The form of candidacy, referring to open lists.
- The issue of political participation and lowering barriers to entry into electoral competition.
- Sub-districts to bring the electorate closer to candidates.
- Responsibilities and responsiveness/action capacity of the TSE.
The Electoral and Political Parties Law is one of the most important in our republican system. It guarantees the mechanisms for electing two of the three branches of government and maintaining the crucial separation of powers. The election mechanisms in our electoral system allow all citizens to elect and be elected. This demonstrates equality before the law and also recognizes ways to ensure periodicity and rotation in office. However, existing problems show that changes must be made to continue building a healthy democracy. That is why reforms to the Electoral and Political Parties Law are so necessary.
The republic requires committed and active citizens who exercise their civism to protect their freedom and guarantee the stability of their democracy. As part of civil society and a social organization that works for the consolidation of the Republic in Guatemala through actions that strengthen its institutions and the Rule of Law, the National Civic Movement (MCN) joins efforts for electoral reform. The goal is for it to benefit citizens and maintain a democratic, representative, participatory republic free of privileges.
