:format(jpeg):focal(3073x1616:3083x1606)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gfrmedia/6VV6C7XO2VAE5I2WEUFB7XKTD4.JPG "San Juan Court disqualifies MVC and Proyecto Dignidad candidates")
Superior Judge Anthony Cuevas Ramos, of the Court of San Juan, disqualified the candidates of the Citizen Victory Movement who were sued by candidates from the PNP and PPD on February 12, requesting that their candidacies be left out of the race for not having completed the selection process filing of endorsements.
In a ruling issued this Thursday, Cuevas Ramos declared that all the motions to dismiss the lawsuit were not upheld and ruled that the defendants: Ana Irma Rivera Lassen, Edgardo Cruz Vélez, Alejandro Santiago Calderón, Ramón Cruz Díaz, Edwin Marrero Martínez, Rafael Bernabe Riefkohl, Mariana Nogales Molinelli, Olvin Valentín Rivera, Gladys Myrna Conty Hernández, Anthony Sánchez Aponte, Sthephen Gil Alamo and Wilfredo Pérez Torres, had to comply with the filing of endorsements.
Candidates for the Legislature of the MVC and the PIP announce a women’s alliance, with plans to amend the lawsuit to disqualify MVC and PDP applicants. In addition, the PIP will have a candidate for resident commissioner in Washington but will support the MVC candidate. The Court of Appeals has confirmed that coalition candidacies between PIP and MVC can be prohibited.
Furthermore, Anthony Sánchez Aponte, Stephen Gil Álamo, and Wilfredo Pérez Torres, candidates for representative district 38 for Proyecto Dignidad, were also disqualified.
In his 28-page ruling, Judge Cuevas Ramos emphasized that all parties must hold primaries when more than one qualified applicant arises. The ruling specified that all candidates are obliged to collect endorsement requests according to the Electoral Code of Puerto Rico.
The lawsuit, originally filed on February 1, was presented by Jorge Alfredo Rivera Segarra, representative for district 22; the senator for Guayama, Héctor Santiago Torres; Yulixa Paredes Albarrán, candidate for representative for district 13; and Jorge Quiles Gordillo, a candidate for representative by accumulation.
The ruling concludes that the defendants must comply with the filing of endorsements and that the complaint filed against them is admissible. This decision showcases the importance of following the electoral laws and regulations in Puerto Rico to ensure fair and transparent elections.