Another scandal at Sunca: electoral fraud has been reported

The construction union, always led by the Communist Party, in addition to being involved in a 1,200,000 dollar scam, has recently seen a group of unionists from the opposition to the communists emerge, who are denouncing repeated electoral fraud in the union elections.

The allegation of electoral fraud in the National Construction and Related Workers' Union (Sunca) refers to accusations filed by a group of workers and a former union leader, Damián Rodríguez, with the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC).

These complaints point to serious irregularities in the most recent Sunca leadership elections, specifically a massive electoral fraud and a complete lack of transparency in the financial management of the Construction Workers' Social Housing Fund (Fosvoc).

Fraudulent union elections

The complainants allege that the electoral processes to elect SUNCA authorities lacked legality and transparency, and were riddled with irregularities.

They state that the list aligned with the Communist Party won several elections in Sunca through electoral fraud.

These union electoral frauds have occurred over the years, since the time when Óscar Andrade led Sunca.

Unionist Damián Rodríguez filed a formal complaint with the MEC, which has begun a review process to evaluate the accusations.

This process could lead to an intervention in the union if the serious irregularities are confirmed.

The elections were marked by the influence of internal factions, particularly one linked to the Communist Party (PCU), which dominated the electoral process without accountability and behind the backs of construction workers.

The complainants also question the management of Fosvoc, a fund intended to facilitate access to housing for construction workers.

It is alleged that there was never any clear information about how much money was in the fund or how it was used.

They state that part of the money contributed by workers was diverted to the PCU's electoral campaigns.

This complaint adds to a previous criminal investigation, launched in January 2025 by Sunca and the Chamber of Construction, which detected a diversion of approximately 1,200,000 dollars through obscure unauthorized transfers to private accounts.

Three former Sunca leaders (Santiago Bernaola, Bruno Bertolio, and Víctor Rivero) were criminally convicted a few days ago for crimes of embezzlement, fraud, conspiracy, and aiding money laundering.

Oscar Andrade implicated

They stated in their declarations that they acted under orders from high-ranking figures, mentioning Senator Óscar Andrade, Representative Daniel Diverio, and SUNCA's finance secretary, Laura Alberti, all from the PCU.

Prosecutor Gilberto Rodríguez indicated that there are indications that part of the diverted money may have been allocated to the PCU and Sunca.

Sunca has expelled nine unionists for the diversion of funds, including the three who were criminally convicted.

The MEC is analyzing the complaint of electoral fraud, and the process could culminate in an intervention in the union if the irregularities are verified.

The criminal investigation into the diversion of funds continues, with the Prosecutor's Office considering summoning Andrade and Diverio for administrative statements, although for now there are no formal charges against them.

A cesspool of corruption

Sunca is under criminal investigation for a massive fraud of 1,200,000 dollars perpetrated by Communist Party unionists, and now a series of complaints for electoral fraud in the union elections has been added.

Everything is murky, dirty, opaque, and those responsible are always the PCU leaders.