VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSN #0733 2122151
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 312151Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1470
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000733 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ES
SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTS TSE MAGISTRATES 
 
¶1.  Summary: The Legislative Assembly elected five Supreme 
Electoral Tribunal (TSE) magistrates June 30.  Eugenio Chicas 
of the (left-wing) Farabundo Marti Front for the National 
Liberation (FMLN) assumed the TSE presidency for a three-year 
term.  Other magistrates are Walter Araujo, Julio Moreno 
Ninos, Eduardo Urquilla, and Fernando Arguello Tellez.  El 
Salvador's next elections are in 2012.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  The Legislative Assembly elected five Supreme Electoral 
Tribunal (TSE) magistrates June 30.  Eugenio Chicas (FMLN), 
Walter Araujo (ARENA), Julio Moreno Ninos (PCN), and Eduardo 
Urquilla have previously served on the TSE; Juan Jose Zaldana 
is new to the TSE.  By law, three magistrates represent the 
political parties that obtained the highest number of votes 
in the last presidential elections; and two (Urquilla and 
Arguello) represent the judicial branch. 
 
¶3.  Eugenio Chicas of the (left-wing) Farabundo Marti Front 
for the National Liberation (FMLN) assumed the TSE presidency 
for a three-year term.  Chicas previously served as TSE Vice 
President (2006-2009) and a deputy in the Legislative 
Assembly (2000-2006).  Walter Araujo, who served as TSE 
President from 2006-2009, will serve as the vice president. 
He also served as a deputy in the Legislative Assembly from 
1994 to 2003. 
 
¶4.  The (right-wing, opportunistic) National Conciliation 
Party (PCN) Magistrate Julio Moreno Ninos, was re-elected 
even though only two parties participated in the 2009 
presidential elections.  Ninos previously served as 
Legislative Assembly deputy  from 2000 to 2006.   Eduardo 
Urquilla previously served as the Deputy Ombudsman for Human 
Rights in 1996-1999.  Arguello served as the Superintendent 
of Electricity and Communications from 2004-09. 
BLAU