The Paraguayan Network for Electoral Integrity submits electoral reform proposal

The agreement, formalized after a series of workshops and follow-up meetings, marked the official formation of the Network, which is composed of several civil society organizations, including Decidamos, Alma Civica, Asociación de Ciencia Política del Paraguay (ACIPP), Grupo Impulsor de la Paridad Democrática (GIPD), TEDIC, and Centro de Informacion y Recursos para el Desarollo (CIRD). 

In a key milestone, the Network submitted its legal framework reform proposal to the Superior Tribunal of Electoral Justice (TSJE) on August 12, 2024. The proposal suggests amendments to laws regulating the Electoral Justice and the Paraguayan Electoral Code. The proposed reforms aim to enhance electoral integrity and safeguard electoral processes from potential disinformation and undue influence. 

The TSJE will review the network’s recommendations and decide whether to incorporate them into its formal proposal to Congress later this year. Although the decision timeline remains open-ended, the submission constitutes a major advancement for the Network. 

The Network’s establishment and its reform efforts represent a direct outcome of the broader project “Protecting Electoral Processes in the Information Environment,” funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) and implemented by International IDEA whose aim is that to bolster electoral processes by addressing malign influences in the information environment and fostering collaboration grounded in global best practices. 

The signing of the MoU and the submission of the reform proposal represent crucial progress in this endeavor. Although a public media presentation of the Network is yet to be held, its work has already been introduced to key institutions such as the TSJE and other political and civil society actors. 

The Paraguayan Network for Electoral Integrity is committed to supporting electoral justice in the country and will continue working towards the protection and fairness of the electoral environment.