Marina del Pilar violated neutrality and fairness in the contest: TEPJF

Mexico City. The Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Branch (TEPJF) determined that the governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila, violated impartiality, neutrality and equity in the election, and incurred in the improper use of public resources due to the statements she made in two morning conferences she offered during the electoral process period.

The magistrates of the higher court unanimously confirmed the ruling of the Specialized Regional Court because it was in accordance with the law to determine that the statements made by the governor represented violations of the electoral principles contained in the Constitution.

In addition, misuse of public resources was confirmed because the morning press conferences were published on the state government’s official social networks and were held in a building belonging to that local power.

The Governor of Baja California and the General Director of State Social Communications challenged the ruling of the Specialized Regional Court, considering that it failed to observe that the conferences enjoy the presumption of being an activity to inform the public, since they are a communication channel that guarantees transparency, accountability and the right of citizens to access information on matters of general interest. This is not a call to vote, but rather a journalistic exercise.

At the proposal of Judge Reyes Rodríguez Mondragón, the higher court confirmed the ruling issued because it indicated that the analysis regarding the two morning conferences was correct. Regarding its content, it was noted that it was not a matter of accountability or an exercise in transparency by the state government, but rather that they were statements to favor the Morena political party, its allies and candidates.