48 124(33) On June 13, 2000, the representatives of the Coastal People Party (PPC), the YATAMA Party and the Indigenous Multiethnic Party (PIM) formed an electoral alliance in a public document, “in order to take part in the municipal elections of November 5, 2000, for mayors, deputy mayors and municipal councilors in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS), […] under the name UNIDAD PIM/YATAMA/PPC.” The document indicated that the principal purpose of the alliance was “to win public office in the municipalities of the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS), in the interests of the ‘indigenous people and ethnic communities’ of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua[; to this end,] they w[ould] present candidates for the different elected positions within the period established by the Supreme Electoral Council and in accordance with the Electoral Act.” Furthermore, the representatives of the said political parties agreed that the executive organs of the parties to the said alliance would establish rules of procedure with norms, procedures and mechanisms to regulate “the selection of the candidates for mayors, deputy mayors and councilors.”69 124(34) Each of the three political parties that composed the PIM/YATAMA/PPC alliance had legal status granted by the Supreme Electoral Council.70 The three parties agreed that they would retain their own political identity and legal status” so that, should one of the parties withdraw from the alliance, it “w[ould] continue with the other two.” In order to join the alliance, each of the respective political parties had to comply with the requirement established in Article 65(9) of the Electoral Act (supra para. 124(22).71 John Alex Delio Bans was appointed the alliance’s legal representative before the Supreme Electoral Council.72 124(35) On June 14, 2000, the legal representatives of the regional parties, PIM, YATAMA and PPC, requested the Supreme Electoral Council to authorize the PIM/YATAMA/PPC alliance. On June 24, 2000, the Supreme Electoral Council informed them that they should indicate which party would head this alliance and “under which party’s flag they would participate in the elections in which [the alliance would] take part.”73 Article 80 of the 2000 Electoral Act establishes that alliances of political parties shall participate in the corresponding elections under “the name, flag and emblem of 69 Cf. notarized attestation of the public instrument of June 13, 2000, on the constitution of the alliance of political parties UNIDAD PIM/YATAMA/PPC (file of appendixes to the application, tome II, appendix 14, folios 589). 70 Cf. resolution issued by the Supreme Electoral Council on May 4, 2000 (file of appendixes to the application, tome II, appendix 10, folio 590); notarized attestation of the public instrument of June 13, 2000, on the constitution of the alliance of political parties UNIDAD PIM/YATAMA/PPC (file of appendixes to the application, tome II, appendix 14, folios 588); and attestations issued on June 13, 2000, by the Supreme Electoral Council concerning the legal status of the PPC and the PIM as political parties (file of preliminary objections, merits and reparations, tome III, folios 950 and 951). 71 Cf. Articles 65 and 77 of Electoral Act No. 331 of January 24, 2000 (appendixes to the brief with preliminary objections, answering the application and with comments on the brief with requests and arguments, appendix D, file of preliminary objections, merits and reparations, tome II, folios 30 and 33). 72 Cf. notarized attestation of the public instrument of June 13, 2000, on the constitution of the alliance of political parties UNIDAD PIM/YATAMA/PPC (file of appendixes to the application, tome II, appendix 14, folio 588). 73 Cf. resolution issued by the Supreme Electoral Council on August 15, 2000 (file of appendixes to the application, tome II, appendix 15(2), folio 598).