The Electoral Code clearly prohibits all public officials from participating in campaigning activities. However, the Legislature is the cradle of most pre-candidates, so this regulation becomes difficult to apply.
This was acknowledged by both the President of Congress, José Alberto Alfaro, and its Executive Director, Antonio Ayales, who asserted that it is difficult to handle certain scenarios such as the tours of legislators, who are not subject to the prohibition.
Alfaro said he told the President of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), Luis Antonio Sobrado, that a civil servant in a campaign is not the same as a a legislator in campaign, so he asked for collaboration to draft a document with a series of actions that might rub against the Electoral Code.
Ayales said that last week they were informing Congressional staff in both the administrative area and those designated in the different political fractions, that there is a ban from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to participate in campaigning activities.
Legislators are the only public officials who have no electoral ban unless they go on a tour with Congress staff.
In addition, those workers who request vacations for these purposes will get a sanction, because their vacations are paid with public resources, so they are subject to the prohibition. Thus, the only way officials can engage in such activities is by asking a permit without pay.
In Congress there are eight parties represented, and there are a total of 10 pre-candidates among legislators. That number could increase in the coming weeks with the announcement of the pre-candidacy of Epsy Campbell.