The constant discredit that President Nayib Bukele and his circle make of the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) is beginning to take its toll on it, according to the latest measurement by the UCA University Institute of Public Opinion (IUDOP)
In their most recent pre-election measure, they show that 46.2% of people have little confidence in electoral authority, and 21.9% none. That is, virtually 7 out of 10 respondents show distrust of TSE.
This coincides with a systematic campaign to discredit and attack the president and his co-religionists against the Court, something that even comes before his arrival in the presidency on June 1, 2019.
Earlier, under the pretext that the color of the WINNER flag on the presidential ballot was incorrect, violent mobs from Bukele’s side and some now officials came to harass and flog the electoral body.
And more recently, another group of radicalized fans detained the staff of the institution inside the Court, without letting them out. This in view of the National Civil Police who did not arrest them.
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All this while denouncing fraud without providing any evidence. These statements pass bill to TSE, a key institution not only to safeguard the integrity of the elections, but to protect the order and social peace that comes from knowing that the popular will is respected. According to electoral expert Malcolm Cartagena, this constant discredit of the Supreme Electoral Court “does not pay anything in the democratic process.”
The expert adds that the court “has shown that while it has made mistakes, it has removed all electoral processes smoothly from the Peace Accords,” and adds that 29 elections have been administered smoothly, including the election that led to Nayib Bukele in the presidency.
Cartagena mentions how the Court had had high credibility and confidence after the 2014 elections, which it successfully managed despite allegations of fraud and a narrow gap between the then FMLN and SAND candidates.
“In 2015 it had a drop in confidence due to the arrival of the cross vote, but then again in 2018 and 2019 it improved its levels,” he recalls. But he adds that “with this kind of rhetoric used by the president attacking the institution, it is natural that with the weight of his opinion is generated distrust and a deterioration of the image of TSE.”
According to the electoral preferences for deputies, the IUDOP poll reflects a broad advantage for New Ideas. In San Salvador 1 73.2% is for NI; 6.8% for ARENA and 5.6% for the FMLN. In Santa Anna, NI stands out with 68.6%; 5%, for ARENA; and 3.8% to WIN. In San Miguel 59.9% of the population would vote for New Ideas; 6.4% the FMLN; and 6.1% SAND.