. . . UNIORE NEWSLETTER Number 84 May - June - July, 2009

General Elections in Panama

Panama City, Panama. The IIHR/CAPEL, as the Executive Secretariat of the Central American and the Caribbean Electoral Organizations Association (Protocol of Tikal) and the Inter-American Union of Electoral Organizations (UNIORE) was invited by the Electoral Tribunal of Panama (TE) to become part of the international observers mission for the General Elections held on May 3, 2009.

The TE enabled 2,211,261 million Panamanian electors, of which a total of 1,634,989 exercised their right to vote by participating on this electoral process and by electing the new President and Vice-president of the Republic.

Panamanians elected candidate Ricardo Martinelli, for Panama City, Panama: Panamanian citizens exercising their the Democratic Change, Panamanian Party, Republican right to vote at the hospitals. Nationalist Liberal Movement and Patriotic Union parties,

with 59.97% of the votes against candidate Balbina Herrera, for the Democratic Revolutionary Party, Popular Party and Liberal Party, with 37.70% of the votes, thus achieving the second place. The IIHR/CAPEL Presented Notebooks 53 and

The group of observers was composed by magistrates 54 on Electoral Justice and electoral representatives from the electoral

organizations of Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Asuncion, Paraguay. On May 11, before a crowded Chile, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, audience congregated at the Electoral Justice Auditorium, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, United including the National Senators and Deputies, electoral States, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Executive authorities and individuals interested on the topic, the IIHR Secretariat was represented by the IIHR/CAPEL presented two new publications belonging to its series President, Sonia Picado Sotela, accompanied by CAPEL CAPEL Notebooks: numbers 53 (Acquired Lessons Director, José Thompson and the Programs Officer, Concerning Electoral Observation Matters) and 54 Ricardo Valverde. (Tendencies and Perspectives of the Electoral Reform). The act, organized by the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal and

On a four-day Work Program, the Mission interviewed the the Institute was chaired by the TSJE Vice-president, Ms.

candidates for the alliances heading the electoral Myriam Cristaldo, who was accompanied by, in preferences, Ricardo Martinelli and Balbina Herrera, as representation of the IIHR, Roberto Cuéllar M., Line Bareiro, well as the technical dependences with responsibilities member of the IIHR General Assembly and one of the for the process and political analysts. Moreover, the authors, and Horacio Cánepa, deputy coordinator of the IIHR mission disgreggated among six Panamanian provinces Regional Office for South America. on the election day and concluded that night with the evaluation session that is the basis of the Report that At the end of the interventions by Line Bareiro and Horacio CAPEL, as Executive Secretariat, sends to the Electoral Cánepa about the new publications, Roberto Cuéllar referred Organization. to the contributions included in regard to the political life and electoral events in the region, which analyze the electoral As a distinctive note, the visit that the President Elect processes in ten American countries over the last ten years. made to the international observers who were meeting for

this evaluation is highlighted.

IIHR/CAPEL Technical Assistance to Electoral Organizations in Ecuador

Quito, Ecu ador. From May 19 to 28, a mission was carried out in the city of Quito by IIHR/CAPEL in the framework o f the Technical Assistance Project to electoral organizations in the country. Among the activities to highlight was the submission of the Technical Mission of International Observation report on the April 26 general elections to the National Electoral Council (CNE). Moreover, the Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE) received the specialized reports from the technical mission that visited the country from April 19 to 22 to transfer experiences on the organization of the TCE Secretariat Buenos Aires, Argentina: Visit of Dr. Endara to the National work, the development of the informatization of their work Electoral Chamber of Argentina. She is accompanied by and the structuring of a specialized library. Ricardo Valverde (left), IIHR/CAPEL Programs Officer, and Alberto Dalla Via (right), Vice-president of the National Electoral On the other hand, on May 27, the Technical Assistance Chamber of Argentina. Project Director, Ricardo Valverde, and the Vice-president of the State Electoral Commission of Puerto Rico, Néstor In the framework of the horizontal cooperation between Colón, met with representatives of different organizations electoral organizations, IIHR/CAPEL Programs Officer, Ricardo for the blind or physically challenged to evaluate the Valverde, accompanied TCE Vice-president, Ximena Endara, to political participation of their members for the April 26 a series of work meetings with the Pro-secretary of judicial acts elections. The meeting also had the attendance of the and the Director of informatics of the National Electoral Vice-president of the National Electoral Council of Ecuador, Chamber, as well as to her encounters with the Vice-president representatives from USAID/Ecuador, the “Taxi Solidario” of this high organizations, Alberto Dalla Via, and the Magistrate Project, the CNE General Coordinator and the Training Rodolfo Munné. These encounters were very helpful for Ms. Directors and Political Organizations, IIHR/CAPEL technical Endara to deeply get to know the organization and the counterparts in the implementation of the project. operations of the National Electoral Chamber and its jurisprudence processing system; the possible technical In follow-up to these activities during the first half of June, collaboration between both institutions was assessed. work was continued through the visit of Ms. Cristina Mantilla, librarian of the Electoral Disputes Tribunal of From July 06 to 09, the Technical Assistance Project Director, Ecuador, to Costa Rica; she was there from June 17 to 21 Ricardo Valverde, was in Quito, so that in coordination with the in the headquarters of the Inter-American Court of Human Director of Training of the National Electoral Council of Ecuador Rights and the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (CNE), to transfer the census of persons with special needs Joint Library, where she had the opportunity to talk with and the accessibility forms for polling stations, collected on April personnel from both information services and meet with the 26 on the general elections to the National Federation of Director of the Joint Library, Mrs. Ana Rita Ramírez, who Ecuadorinas with Physical Challenges (FENEDIF). The offered her the necessary collaboration on her new work. FENEDIF will tabulate and analyze the data that will be typed Likewise, she was attended by the Director of the Supreme with the support from the IIHR/CAPEL. Additionally, he met Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica Library Director, Rocío with the Preparatory Commission of the Juridical Argumentation Montero, where she got acquainted with the technical and Judicial Ethics Sessions, event that is programmed for aspects related with the management of a specialized September with the participation of Manuel Atienza and Alí bibliographic collection on electoral topics. Lozada, important jurists of the University of Alicante, Spain.

On June 14, follow-up was given to the activity addressed On the other hand, Rafael Balda and Diego Zambrano, TCE to achieve a better signalization of the spaces previewed representatives, visited Mexico from July 13 to 17 in the for the vote of persons with special needs, as well as the company of Ricardo Valverde; the purpose was to visit the collection of relevant information on the accessibility Federation’s Judicial Branch Electoral Tribunal and the Federal conditions of the Ecuadorian polling stations in the entire Electoral Institute in Mexico. In the framework of the horizontal country, apart from a census or registration of persons with cooperation between the electoral organizations of the special needs, in order to improve this field for future Americas, they had the opportunity to know the work of different electoral processes. TRIFE and IFE dependencies, apart of attending a public session on July 15.

In order to know more about the work performed by the TCE-

Ecuador, please access the following link: http://www.enlamiraonline.com/cliente/ver.php?prm=443272,

Presentation of the Second Annual Labor Report of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica. Due to the presentation of the Second Annual Labor Report, on May 20, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica carried out a special activity in the framework of the sixtieth anniversary of its creation. In this opportunity, there was participation, on behalf of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (IIHR), of its executive director, Mr. Roberto Cuéllar, and CAPEL programs officer, Sofía Vicenzi.

The Magistrate President of the TSE, Mr. Luis Antonio Sobrado, emphasized on the increase of electoral processes Quito, Ecuador: An Ecuadoran senior citizen exercising his that the institution has had to organize over the last few years right to vote during the Andean Parliament and Parish as a result of a new electoral paradigm and before the need elections. to make concrete some of the political decisions previously adopted. Moreover, he highlighted TSE’s concern in Observation Mission in Ecuador recovering its presence in Latin American forums, the need to assume an important training role in democratic life and the decision to promote the modernization of its processes, Quito, Ecuador. An International Technical Mission of among many other challenges. The Report contains four the electoral entities of Colombia, Chile, Peru and main chapters: Electoral institutionality, The Tribunal in its Venezuela, countries belonging to the Andean Parliament (PA) was summoned by the National Electoral Council of directive and jurisdictional role, Community, Interinstitutional Ecuador (CNE) to be present at the Election Day on June and academic projection and Results of registry and administrative management. 14 in which representatives to the PA and Rural Parish

Board members were elected.

The mission was integrated by representatives of the The IIHR/CAPEL on the European Elections electoral organizations members of the South American Electoral Organizations Association (Protocol of Quito) and Madrid, Spain. On June 7, invited by the Ministry of the the Inter-American Union of Electoral Organizations Interior, a group of Latin American observers, among them (UNIORE)- and from the IIHR’s Center for Electoral IIHR assistant director and CAPEL director, José Thompson, Advisory and Promotion (IIHR/CAPEL), its Executive witnessed the direct elections held in Madrid, Spain, to elect Secretariat. It developed a program that was previously representatives to the European Parliament. The visit agreed with the CNE, which included the transfer to allowed to also become acquainted with the technological different observation points in the province of Pichincha innovations being tried at some Spanish places, in particular (Aloag, Amaguaña, La Magdalena, Zambisa, Chapicruz, La the one that allows to automatize the opening of the voting Floresta and metropolitan Quito). Observation was day, the flow of electors, the totalization of results and the followed by an evaluation session. The IIHR deputy emission of the respective acts at the Electoral Colleges director and CAPEL director, José Thompson, and Ricardo (Electronically Administered Colleges – Colegio Administrado Valverde, CAPEL officer, also held meetings with the Electrónicamente, CAE). Electoral Disputes Tribunal and the Executive Director of

the civic movement Citizen Participation (Participación The Ministry of the Interior Internal Policy General Directorate Ciudadana). The report corresponding to this mission was Electoral Affairs Office is in charge of organizing the electoral submitted to the President and CNE full members on processes in Spain and has a wide experience in the Monday, June 15. collaboration with Latin American authorities on the matter.

The most notorious fact in the elections of representatives to the European Parliament was the high absenteeism in countries such as Spain, in which vote is not mandatory.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: IIHR Executive Buenos Aires, Argentina: Signals implemented by the Director, Mr. Roberto Cuéllar M., in company of the Electoral Organization for the Legislative Election on June 28, Magistrates of the Central Electoral Board of Dominican 2009 Republic.

IIHR Executive Director on the Opening of the Legislative Elections in Argentina Specializa tion in Electoral Law of the Central Electoral Board School Buenos Aires, Argentina. Attending the kind invitation by the National Electoral Chamber and the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. From June 15 to Ministry of the Interior or Argentina, between June 22 and 17, IIHR executive director, Roberto Cuéllar M., visited 29, the IIHR/CAPEL, in its condition as Executive Dominican Republic in order to participate on the Secretariat of the South America Electoral Organizations Association (Protocol of Quito) and the Inter-American inauguration of the Specialization in Electoral Law of the Union of Electoral Organizations (UNIORE), integrated National Sch ool of Electoral Training and Civil State (EFEC), which belongs to the Central Electoral Board of this country. an international observers mission composed by representatives of different Electoral Organizations from During the inauguration act –held on June 16 at the Manuel del Cabral Auditorium, on the Pedro Mir Library on the Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, who Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD)- Mr. Cuéllar dictat ed a conference called: “The situation of political witnessed the Legislative Elections held on Sunday, June parties and electoral democracy in Latin America.” 28, 2009.

The National Electoral Chamber of Argentina enabled The specialization program on Electoral Law’s objective is to 27,790,803 individuals to vote, of which 72% of the develop competences for the training and improvement of national register voted, that is, 20,123,715 voters who ideal manpo w er in this field. It will start with 105 persons, elected 127 members of the 257 who compose the among them, personnel from the Central Electoral Board. Chamber of Deputies, as well as 24 of the 72 members of the Senate.

During its visit, the Mission met with political analysts, mass media, members of civil society organizations, and moreover, received the presentation of the Vote Recount

System.

Montevideo, Uruguay: Uruguayan citizens exercising their Mexico, D.F. Mexican woman exercising her right to right to vote. vote.

IIHR/CAPEL on the Legislative Elections in Primary Elections in Uruguay Mexico

Montevideo, Uruguay. The IIHR/CAPEL, in its condition Mexico, D.F. From July 2 to 6, a mission of foreign visitors as Executive Secretariat of the South America Electoral was present to attend the intermediate simultaneous federal Organizations Association (Protocol of Quito) and the Inter- elections to renew 500 members of the Union Congress American Union of Electoral Organizations (UNIORE), Chamber of Deputies; moreover, there were local elections in collaborated with the Electoral Court of Uruguay in the twelve of the 32 federative entities. The mission, coordinated organization of an international electoral observation mission, by the Judicial Branch Electoral Tribunal and the Federal Electoral Institute, was integrated by electoral organizations comprised by twelve magistrates and electoral officers from members of UNIORE, to which colleagues from India, Bosnia the Electoral Organizations of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Herzegovina and Zambia, along with representatives Paraguay and Dominican Republic to visit the country due to the Primary Elections held on June 28, 2009. The Head of from the academy and other specialized institutions joined. The IIHR/CAPEL, UNIORE Executive Secretariat, Mission was IIHR assistant director and CAPEL director, José Thompson, in company of Mr. Horacio Cánepa, in charge of coordinated the work groups, the observation routes and the the IIHR Regional Office in Montevideo. elections day evaluating meeting; it was represented by José Thompson, IIHR assistant director and CAPEL director, and For these internal party elections, the candidates were Sofía Vincenzi, programs officer. Within the mission’s elected for the general polls next October 25. The Electoral program, an Exchange Forum was held in which fundamental Court of Uruguay enabled 2,584,219 Uruguayan citizens to topics such as the Mexican federal electoral reform, the exercise their right to vote, of which 40% voted, thus electing preparation of elections in Mexico, financing of political the presidential candidates Luis Alberto Lacalle, for the parties and the Electoral Tribunal jurisprudential doctrine, Partido Nacional who obtained 46.5% of votes, José Mujica, among other topics, were addressed. for the Frente Amplio party, who obtained 41.3% of the votes, and Pedro Bordaberry, for the Partido Colorado, who These elections were carried out after the constitutional and obtained 12.6% of the votes. legal reforms approved at the end of 2007 by the Union Congress, an integral reform process that incorporated The Mission held high-level interviews with the leadership of important innovations in the political party juridical regime; the the three main Uruguayan political forces, Frente Amplio, conditions of equity in the electoral contest, including the Partido Nacional and Partido Colorado, and their respective regulation of the candidate internal selection processes and the so-called pre-campaigns, public financing to political candidates. Likewise, it held interviews with political analysts parties and electoral campaigns, access to mass media, and and mass media, apart from having an exchange session the use of electronic media with electoral purposes, among with the Electoral Court of this country. others.

The group of foreign visitors had the opportunity to witness the results transmission process at the IFE’s headquarters.

XXIII Conference of the Central America and the Caribbean Electoral Organizations Association (Protocol of Tikal)

San Jose, Costa Rica. From July 29 to 31, the XXIII

Conference of the Central America and the Caribbean

Electoral Organizations Association (Protocol of Tikal) took place. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of Costa Rica, in its condition as host, and with the contribution of the Center for Electoral Advisory and Promotion (IIHR/CAPEL), as the Executive Secretariat of the Central American and the Caribbean Electoral Organizations Association (Protocol of Tikal), gathered the delegations of Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia, in order to reflect on San Jose, Costa Rica: Delegates to the XXIII Conference “The role of electoral organizations as guarantors of of the Central American and the Caribbean Electoral women’s political rights participation and their exercise,” Organizations Association. its central topic. Moreover, a review was made to the electoral agenda of the next months and the undergoing electoral reform processes in the region. Likewise, they will continue fostering horizontal technical cooperation among member electoral organizations and will In the framework of this activity, the member electoral promote the performance of an analysis about women’s organizations had the opportunity to inform on the main political participation, emphasizing on the English-speaking tasks and activities developed on the period ranging from Caribbean countries; they will implant measures to strengthen November 2008 to July 2009. The meeting concluded the rights approach and an institutional culture of equality with the adoption of important agreements that will guide between men and women, which will be made concrete the Association’s work during the next twelve months. through actions such as the establishment of disaggregated

statistical registries that give an account for the diversity of Apart from the recognition that women’s political our societies, beginning by men and women; and the participation has the greatest relevance for the information on the designation of women to electoral democratic life of the Protocol of Tikal member countries, organizations will be systematized. All of this will be co- which harmoniously coincides with the principle and related to the training and education activities that will include aspiration of parity in the representation between men the approach and topics addressed to achieve equality and women, the attending delegations decided to support between men and women. Finally, it was agreed that the the systematization and exchange of experiences related main topic for the XXIV Protocol of Tikal Conference will be with the equality between men and women, recurring to “The use of technologies in electoral processes (electoral the information and communications technologies registry, electronic vote, scrutiny).” (internet pages, electronic forums) and the production of a manual in which the good practices in this regard are presented. Read more on the internet:

Press release, July 28

Inauguration of the XXIII Conference of the Protocol of Tikal

Agreements of the XXIII Conference of the Protocol of Tikal

News from UNIORE member organizations

Next, we inform you the most recent changes produced on the electoral organizations in the region.

Chile – Elections Qualifying Tribunal

We share with you the new designations of the Elections Qualifying Tribunal of Chile.

Sergio Muñoz Gajardo - President El Salvador - Supreme Electoral Tribunal

Haroldo Brito - Minister

Eugenio Chicas Martínez - President

Walter René Araujo Morales - Magistrate The Executive Secretariat congratulates the new electoral presidents and magistrates and wishes

Julio E. Moreno Niños - Magistrate them success in their labor.

Eduardo Antonio Urquilla - Magistrate New On-line Publications: Fernando Arguello Tellez - Magistrate

Douglas Alejandro Alas – Deputy Magistrate Dear UNIORE members, we would like to share with you the following publication: Silvia Idalia Cartagena Martínez – Deputy Magistrate CAPEL Notebook 53 in English

Oscar Morales – Deputy Magistrate

Juan Gilberto Cardona – Deputy Magistrate

Ana Guadalupe Medina – Deputy Magistrate

Available at: www.iidh.ed.cr/capel, CAPEL Notebook 53, titled: ¨ Acquired Lessons Concerning Observation of Electoral Matters in Latin America.¨