Suggestive meeting casts doubt on independence in UNA Law School elections

A recent meeting in Paraguay involving candidates for vice-dean, members of the Independent Electoral Tribunal (TEI), and high-ranking judicial officials has cast a shadow over the independence of the upcoming dean and vice-dean elections at the National University of Asunción's (UNA) Law School. The gathering has sparked doubts about whether the elections will be free from undue influence.

The photo circulating on WhatsApp shows participants including members of the UNA Law School's Directive Council, ministers Alberto Martínez Simón and Manuel Ramírez Candia, appellate judge José Agustín Fernández, and deputy defender Edgar Ríos. Also present were appellate judge Osvaldo González, Civil and Commercial Court judge Karen González, her husband Jorge Bogarín Alfonso (previously declared "significantly corrupt"), student representative Alejandro Garcete, and dean candidate Bonifacio Ríos Ávalos, a former Supreme Court justice.

The meeting's significance is amplified by the fact that José Agustín Fernández, Edgar Ríos, and Alejandro Garcete are members of the TEI, the body tasked with resolving challenges against the vice-dean candidacies of Ramírez Candia and Judge Karen González. This situation raises questions about the tribunal's ability to act independently when deciding these challenges, especially given the familial connections among some attendees.

Impartiality is considered a crucial element in the election of university authorities. The TEI's independence is paramount, particularly in this context. Last week, faculty members at the Law School filed challenges with the TEI against key candidates for the upcoming university elections on August 20. These challenges cite alleged violations of constitutional norms and laws prohibiting the holding of multiple high-ranking public positions simultaneously.

One such challenge targets Marco Aurelio González, a member of the Central Bank of Paraguay's (BCP) board, who is seeking to become dean. Professor Francisco Llamas argues that González's candidacy faces an "insurmountable legal and factual incompatibility" due to his BCP role, which legally requires exclusive dedication. The situation underscores a broader concern about the integrity of the electoral process within the university.

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Significantly corrupt