Margarita Cedeño favors electoral law empowering the JCE to sanction illegal acts in the campaign
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The former Vice President of Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeño, said she was in favor of the inclusion of provisions in the electoral law reform project, which is being discussed in the National Congress, that grant competence to the Central Electoral Board (JCE), to sanction illegal acts during the bell.
“I agree that everything attached to the institutional framework, transparency, and clear, precise and applicable procedures be approved,” said the former vice president.
Cedeño believes that the JCE, as in charge of organizing the elections, must have the mechanisms to guarantee transparency and honesty in the elections. When asked about her integration into the electoral campaign, she replied “that’s where we are, always working for my party, for my people and for my country.”
Her idea sounds good, but not as good as it sounds. Giving the JCE the power to punish illegal acts undermines the authority and ability of police authorities and prosecutors to enforce the laws. It puts all the control under one JCE roof. The result would be no checks and balances on the JCE coming from other segments of government. The by-product of the law gives the political party in power reason to use its pawns planted in the JCE to steer JCE’s policies and rulings to the principal party’s favor. Thus, the proposed law allows the JCE’s electoral management to become a tool of politicians.