LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTS TSE MAGISTRATES

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000733

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ES
SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTS TSE MAGISTRATES


1. Summary: The Legislative Assembly elected five Supreme
Electoral Tribunal (TSE) magistrates June 30. Eugenio Chicas
of the (left-wing) Farabundo Marti Front for the National
Liberation (FMLN) assumed the TSE presidency for a three-year
term. Other magistrates are Walter Araujo, Julio Moreno
Ninos, Eduardo Urquilla, and Fernando Arguello Tellez. El
Salvador's next elections are in 2012. End Summary.


2. The Legislative Assembly elected five Supreme Electoral
Tribunal (TSE) magistrates June 30. Eugenio Chicas (FMLN),
Walter Araujo (ARENA),Julio Moreno Ninos (PCN),and Eduardo
Urquilla have previously served on the TSE; Juan Jose Zaldana
is new to the TSE. By law, three magistrates represent the
political parties that obtained the highest number of votes
in the last presidential elections; and two (Urquilla and
Arguello) represent the judicial branch.


3. Eugenio Chicas of the (left-wing) Farabundo Marti Front
for the National Liberation (FMLN) assumed the TSE presidency
for a three-year term. Chicas previously served as TSE Vice
President (2006-2009) and a deputy in the Legislative
Assembly (2000-2006). Walter Araujo, who served as TSE
President from 2006-2009, will serve as the vice president.
He also served as a deputy in the Legislative Assembly from
1994 to 2003.


4. The (right-wing, opportunistic) National Conciliation
Party (PCN) Magistrate Julio Moreno Ninos, was re-elected
even though only two parties participated in the 2009
presidential elections. Ninos previously served as
Legislative Assembly deputy from 2000 to 2006. Eduardo
Urquilla previously served as the Deputy Ombudsman for Human
Rights in 1996-1999. Arguello served as the Superintendent
of Electricity and Communications from 2004-09.
BLAU