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