Background on the Controversy
The Mexican electoral body, the Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación (TEPJF), has started receiving the first appeals against hefty fines imposed by the National Electoral Institute (INE) on various judicial power candidates. These fines were issued for appearing in the so-called “acordeones” and failing to submit campaign expense reports.
Key Players Involved
Among those challenging the fines are Rafael Linares Rivera, elected judge for a mixed jurisdiction in Michoacán known as “Defensor del Pueblo” (People’s Defender), and Indira Isabel García Pérez, elected magistrate for the Tribunal de Disciplina Judicial (Judicial Discipline Tribunal).
Rafael Linares Rivera’s Appeal
Linares Rivera filed two complaints against the INE’s financial oversight, arguing that the fines diminish his assets and insisting there is no proof he was aware of his appearance in the “acordeones.” Once learning about their existence, he distanced himself from creating, distributing, publicizing, or acquiring any form of illegal campaign materials.
- Fine amount: 7,014 pesos for appearing in “acordeones”
- Additional fines: 8,200 pesos for unexplained errors or omissions in the campaign expense report
Indira Isabel García Pérez’s Appeal
García Pérez contested the consolidated report presented by the INE’s Fiscalization Commission, which detailed irregularities in her campaign expense report. As a result, she was fined 10,069 pesos for failing to use a personal bank account exclusively for managing her campaign resources.
Víctor Hugo Solano Vera’s Appeal
Victor Hugo Solano Vera, elected magistrate for the Colegiado de Circuito en Materia Civil corresponding to the Distrito Judicial Electoral 7 del Poder Judicial de la Federación, also appealed a fine of 41,296 pesos imposed by the INE for appearing in “acordeones.” This case is one of the few where the INE did not adjust the fine based on Solano Vera’s financial situation, as it maintained a 10% penalty of the 413,111 pesos campaign spending limit.
Ángel Antonio López Sánchez’s Appeal
Ángel Antonio López Sánchez, a candidate for labor judge, filed a resource against a decision related to financial oversight. This decision imposed a sanction for his appearance in the “Guías de votación” or “acordeones.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What are “acordeones”? “Acordeones” are a type of illegal campaign material that candidates are accused of using or being associated with, leading to fines from the INE.
- Who are Rafael Linares Rivera, Indira Isabel García Pérez, Víctor Hugo Solano Vera, and Ángel Antonio López Sánchez? They are elected judicial power candidates who have appealed fines imposed by the INE for various campaign-related irregularities.
- What are the main reasons for these appeals? The candidates argue that the fines unfairly diminish their assets and that there is no proof they were aware of or involved in the creation, distribution, or acquisition of illegal campaign materials.
