Voting machines lack guarantees, liberals demand resignation of PLRA electoral tribunal president

A prominent faction within Paraguay's Liberal Radical Authentic Party (PLRA) is raising serious doubts about the reliability of electronic voting machines, insisting they do not offer sufficient guarantees for electoral integrity.

The LIDERA movement, led by political scientist Luis Fretes Carreras, issued a statement criticizing the electoral justice system's recent two-day verification of the voting machines. They described the process as abruptly cut short and claimed it left them with even greater concerns. The movement is urging party affiliates and the general public to actively monitor the vote and refrain from blindly trusting the technology.

Furthermore, LIDERA has called for the resignation of Gustavo Bernal, the president of the PLRA's Independent Electoral Tribunal. They accuse Bernal of being subservient to the Superior Electoral Tribunal's (TSJE) directives and failing to adequately defend the party's members. Consequently, they have declared a loss of confidence in his leadership and demanded his removal from the position.

LIDERA highlighted that despite the state's investment of over $30 million in renting these machines, the technology limits or prevents effective control, transforming it from a guarantee into a source of uncertainty. The movement's statement warns that "there are no sufficient guarantees" to dispel all doubts regarding the traceability, integrity, and security of the vote. They contend that the conditions imposed during the "so-called technical verification" hindered independent and effective oversight.

The group also pointed to an increase in the number of voters per table, which they believe weakens control and supervision capabilities on election day. They cautioned against fostering a dangerous "illusion of technological security" that could discourage the active participation of observers, representatives, and citizens in safeguarding the vote. LIDERA plans to present a detailed technical report with findings and recommendations to PLRA authorities and the TSJE to address the detected weaknesses and strengthen electoral guarantees for future elections.