Disqualification of public employees and officials

Public employees are prohibited from engaging in politico-electoral work or discussions during working hours and from using their positions to benefit a political party. The direct supervisors of these employees shall be responsible for monitoring compliance with this provision.

The President and Vice Presidents of the Republic, ministers and deputy ministers, active members of the foreign service, the comptroller general or assistant comptroller general of the Republic, ombudsmen, the Attorney–General and Assistant Attorney-General, executive chairmen or members of management boards, executive directors, managers and assistant managers of autonomous institutions and any state public body, senior ministry officials, members of the police forces, agents of the Judicial Investigation Bureau (OIJ), justices and any employees of the TSE, judges and officials of the judiciary who administer justice and who are disqualified by virtue of other laws, cannot participate in political party activities, attend gatherings or meetings of a political nature, use the authority or influence of their positions for the benefit of political parties, place symbols on their residences or vehicles or exhibit other symbols of party affiliation.

In election matters, the officials included in the second paragraph of this Article may only exercise their right to vote on polling day in the manner and under the conditions stipulated in this Act.

The TSE can order the dismissal of the aforementioned officials and disqualify them from exercising public office for a period of two to four years when their acts contravene the prohibitions stipulated in this Article.