Uri Ben Schmuel is facing a lawsuit because allegedly he failed to include all the technical information associated with a survey published in his paper.
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 24 July 2011, the “El Comercio” newspaper reported that Uri Ben Schmuel, the editor of the “La Razón” newspaper, is facing a lawsuit filed by the national elections council (Jurado Nacional de Elecciones, JNE) because he failed to include all the technical information associated with a survey published in his paper. The story came to light in Lima, Peru’s capital city.
The JNE, Peru’s highest electoral body, amended the requirements for the dissemination of survey results in December 2010, a controversial measure that was carried out in the middle of the 10 April and 5 June 2011 general elections process.
Ben Schmuel, who has said that “La Razón” published the technical information given to him by the polling company, believes the JNE should withdraw the lawsuit since the JNE itself issued a resolution on 15 July admitting the the amendment to the law was excessive.
IPYS believes the JNE should cease its action against “La Razón” as the lawsuit represents an attack on freedom of expression.
