Manipulating democracy in Mexico
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador seeks to push an electoral reform initiative. Photo: Government of Mexico.
By: Abigail Angélica Correa Cisneros
Dissatisfaction with Mexico’s democracy validates President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s proposal to reform the electoral law and reduce unjustified spending by up to 24 billion pesos.
Is this viable and positive for the country two years before the change of government? It will be difficult for legislators to approve the changes being sought and the proposal would remain only an attempt at a transition to more reliable institutions.
However, a policy change of this size is essential. Throughout the neoliberal period, there has been evidence the government could have functioned successfully had it not been complicit in fraud. Examples include 2006, when the Federal Electoral Institute was complicit with the Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Federation. Likewise, in 2012 with the massive vote-buying led by the Institutional Revolutionary Party.
This reform would modify 18 constitutional articles and include seven transitory articles. The National Electoral Institute, or INE, would become the National Institute of Elections and Consultations. It would eliminate 200 plurinominal deputations [a proportional representation in which votes are cast and counted for a list of named candidates collectively, rather than for individuals], list senators, local public electoral bodies and state electoral tribunals, reduction of the number of members of local congresses and regidurías, in addition to the establishment of popular vote as a mechanism for the election of the councilors of the electoral body and of the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Power.
Another significant change, which makes approval of the proposal more difficult, would be the end of public financing for the ordinary activities of the parties, which would only be given a budget to face the elections.
The country’s democracy has been manipulated by the interests of those who have been governing for decades with the sole purpose of plundering the nation. On numerous occasions, it has been demonstrated that this electoral system does not work. This proposal intends, among other points, to reduce the number of councilors from 11 to seven and that these be elected, together with the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal, by popular vote. The election would take place every six years, before the presidential elections, from 60 names proposed by the Executive Branch (20), the Judicial Branch (20) and the Legislative Branch (10 from the Chamber of Deputies, 10 from the Senate).
Likewise, the Chamber of Deputies is to be reduced from 500 to 300 legislators. The deputies would be elected from lists of candidates nominated by the parties and independent candidates in each of the 32 states.
The Senate of the Republic is contemplated in 96 senatorial seats out of 128; eliminating the current National List and generating that the three senatorial seats in each entity are elected from state lists.
Currently, INE owes a lot to Mexicans. It failed in the recent call for the revocation of mandate. In every electoral process there are reports of falsification of minutes. Councilors have been accused of obeying particular interests, especially those of the PRI. Their credibility is at rock bottom, according to the opinion of millions of Mexicans. The institution could use a change and a considerable saving in its budget.
Translated by Mike Rogers
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