Democratic risk: Valdés modified the Electoral Code three months before the elections

The governor of Corrientes, Gustavo Valdés, signed Decree No. 1260, which modifies essential aspects of the province's Electoral Code, in the final countdown to the general elections on August 31. The decision was made without legislative debate or public consultation, and it raised alarm signals among the opposition and various legal sectors due to the impact it will have on electoral competition.

One of the central changes of the decree is the limitation of the use of attached ballots—known as "listas colectoras"—which until now allowed parties or local groups with territorial representation to join provincial candidacies without belonging organically to the same alliance. From now on, only lists from alliances that coincide at all levels of the election may be attached.

Restrictions affecting opposition forces

With this modification, it also prevents a single municipal candidate from attaching their ballot to more than one provincial ticket, which significantly restricts the electoral strategy of opposition forces and neighborhood groups that do not answer to the ruling party.

According to analysts, this is a move that especially impacts parties that were experiencing significant territorial growth. The governor's decision was interpreted as a maneuver to protect his group's hegemony and prevent the development of competitive alternatives both inside and outside his coalition.

An opposition leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, was blunt: "Changing the rules of competition on the fly is typical of weakened democracies." That concern was echoed by voices from the legal field who point to a possible violation of the principle of electoral fairness, as it enshrines advantages for parties with greater structure.

Technical controversies with political implications

The decree also grants new powers to the Electoral Court to define the type of paper for the ballots. Although this might seem like a minor issue, this technical matter could result in logistical disadvantages for smaller parties, which have fewer resources to adapt to last-minute changes.