Colorado Party: Only Cartes' envoy initially verified voting machines amid internal dispute

Internal dissent within Paraguay's Colorado Party has surfaced over the verification process for voting machines intended for the party's upcoming internal elections. Mónica Seifart, a member of the party's Internal Electoral Tribunal (TEP), confirmed that the initial audit of the voting machines by the Superior Electoral Justice (TSJE) was conducted with only one representative appointed by the party's president, Horacio Cartes.

Seifart explained that this limited initial verification, which did not include representatives from the party's internal factions or movements, has caused dissatisfaction among these groups. The internal movements felt excluded from a crucial stage of the electoral process, prompting them to formally request a new, more comprehensive technical review.

"The representatives were designated by the Colorado Executive, not by the TEP," Seifart stated in an interview, clarifying the origin of the delegates present at the technical verification. She acknowledged that the dissident movements' complaints were well-founded, leading the TEP to channel their request to the Electoral Justice.

Consequently, the Electoral Justice has granted two days for a renewed verification process. The first day focused on inspecting the hardware of the voting machines, while the second is dedicated to examining the software. Accredited technicians from the Electoral Justice and representatives from various internal movements are participating in this extended audit. Seifart indicated that the initial experience of the verification process has been satisfactory for the participants, though further technical observations are still pending.