Correistas are looking for a new political party after election court disqualifies a second party

For the second time in four months, candidates of the Correista movement face exclusion from the November election ballot. On Friday, the Contentious Electoral Tribunal (TCE) disqualified the AMIGO party, which the Correistas had joined. Correista leader Gabriela Rivadeneira at a Friday press conference. The disqualification is for nine months based on money laundering charges against directors of AMIGO that may have involved campaign funds. In April, TCE had disqualified the Correista Citizens Revolution party on claims it had received campaign money from the Venezuelan government. Under election law, candidates must be affiliated with a sanctioned party to run for office. The charges against both AMIGO and Citizens Revolution are based on “preliminary investigations” by the Attorney General’s office. Neither case has yet gone to trial. Lead prosecutor in both cases, Carlos Alarcón, says that investigations are continuing and refused to provide specifics of the charges. Correista leader Gabriela Rivadeneira blasted the TCE decision, saying it “confirms a pattern of government attack” against the movement’s candidates. “They know our people can beat theirs in a fair election so they resort to corrupt methods to keep us out,” she said, adding that there has been “no proof presented and no convictions made” in the cases against Citizens Revolution and AMIGO. Rivadeneira said Correista candidates would form an alliance with another qualified party to get its candidates on the November ballot. Political analysts expressed surprise at the CTE decision. “It seems to indicate political influence that should not be allowed in the election process,” said Jorge Ramirez, who said he has been an opponent of the Correismo movement since it began but is a “firm believer” in the concept of fair play. “The CTE should not act on unproven charges, even if they are presented by prosecutors,” he said. “What happened the idea of innocence until guilt is proven?” Ramirez added that investigators could find “shady activity” in any political movement, including Noboa’s Democratic Action, if prosecutors pursued all leads. “It appears there is a planned agenda in this case.” Former Elections Commission member Raul Paderna called TCE’s decision “stinky,” saying it was made quickly following the receipt of Alarcón’s notice he was investigating AMIGO members. “This was a judgement call that came with little information to back it up,” Pederna said. “The TCE should be independent of government influence but, like the prosecutors’ office, it is obvious it is under the thumb of the Noboa government.” The post Correistas are looking for a new political party after election court disqualifies a second party appeared first on CuencaHighLife.