The Senate has appointed Maria Estela de Leon Veloz as the new alternate member of the Central Electoral Board (JCE). She will replace Iván Vladimir Félix Vargas, who was recently appointed as a deputy prosecutor at the Attorney General Office.
De León Veloz, an attorney and journalist with 31 years of experience at the JCE, will serve as the alternate to Samir Chami Isa, one of the five primary members of the board.
Her appointment fills the vacancy left by Félix Vargas, who was chosen by the National Council of the Magistracy to join a team of seven deputy prosecutors assisting Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso.
Félix Vargas previously led the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes and Offenses of High Technology (Pedatec) and is now coordinating the G-5 project, an initiative focused on the technological modernization of investigations and the National Attention System.
The Senate’s decision came after a special commission, reactivated by Senate president Ricardo de los Santos, reviewed candidates from the previous selection process for the JCE. The commission’s favorable report on De León Veloz was presented to the full Senate, which approved her appointment in a single vote.
Throughout her career at the JCE, De León Veloz has held several key positions, including deputy legal consultant and director of the Purchasing and Contracting department.
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Diario Libre
El Nuevo Diario
5 August 2025