Officials Accused of 30 Election Law Violations
(Chilpancingo, NA 7 December) The Guerrero office of the federal agency charged with investigation crimes related to elections (known as FEPADE) made public yesterday that it has received as many as 30 formal complaints against public officials who have violated election laws. Most of the complaints accuse bureaucrats of requiring that subordinates support a specific candidate or of diverting public resources (money, labor and supplies) into political campaigns for governor. The complaints name both city government officials and state level workers. The names of the accused will not be released unless and until investigations confirm that violations occurred. Penalties include fines and outright loss of the public job. The most common complaint was against the use of public employees to distribute literature, to put up posters, and to provide logistical support for the political rallies of a specific candidate.
FEPADE has just published a special pamphlet called Conciencia Electoral (“Electoral Conscience”), which explains the various rules, rights and penalties contained in the election laws. The hope is that the press and the public will know the rules and be able to report any irregularities. In the announcement of the publication, FEPADE asked that the three gubernatorial candidates make sure their election workers respect and follow the rules and that government officials and employees not engage in partisan politics.
Separately, the acting mayor of Acapulco, José Luis Ávila Sánchez, attending the presentation of the FEPADE publication Conciencia Electoral, insisted that none of Acapulco’s city employees participate in electoral activities “during working hours.” He said, “We have reiterated with our fellow public servants that during working hours they cannot assist the campaigns, that they must direct themselves to the city’s needs and not to the candidates, as this could also hurt the campaigns.” The political opposition to PRI candidate Manuel Añorve Baños is watching Acapulco’s city government closely, as it is filled with his “people” (beneficiaries of political patronage). At the slightest hint that public resources are being used to support Añorve’s campaign, the Aguirre people will file complaints and create a lot of noise. Mayor Ávila, himself one of Añorve’s most faithful lieutenants, is trying to avoid any such problems. The Aguirre campaign is less susceptible to legal violations of this type, as the PRD governor has not supported the candidate, and few other PRD loyalists in governmental positions have rallied behind him.
