The spokesman for the majority PRD block of senators, Pedro Antonio (Papo) Luna (PRD-Sanchez Ramirez), says the PRD block will choose the two new judges for the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the government body responsible for organizing the 2004 presidential elections. As a result of a political agreement, the number of judges on the JCE was increased from seven to nine. Nevertheless, representatives for the three leading political parties say the newest judges for the JCE need to be chosen by consensus of the political parties.
Towards the end of last year, the deputies of the opposition parties agreed to vote in favor of a new placement of sovereign bonds in return for the PRD-majority Senate?s approval of amendments to the Electoral Law that reduced the power of its controversial president, Ramon Morel Cerda. Senator Jose Tomas Perez (PLD-National District) says that his party has the right to choose one of the two judges, however, the Constitution grants the right to choose the judges to the Senate. Nevertheless, when the PRD-majority Senate selected replacements for the JCE judges entirely from one single party, the opposition parties protested, causing an impasse in congressional activities.
Adding to the new developments, some politicians are now suggesting that Morel Cerda should be the one to choose the new judges. This, they say, would be an effective way to appease Morel Cerda, who is allegedly fuming over his loss of full control of the JCE.
