What changes are Mexican citizens protesting in relation to the election watchdog?
Mexico’s Election Watchdog Overhaul Continues to Draw Protestors
The government of Mexico is facing uproar from citizens over its recent National Electoral Institute (INE) overhaul. An unprecedented amount of demonstrators have been gathering in recent weeks to oppose the potentially unconstitutional changes meant to weaken organization’s enforcement of national and local election laws.
Background
The INE is Mexico’s main federal administrative and electoral governing body that implements democratic law and runs elections. It is charged with ensuring electoral justice and fairness. In early February 2021, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration proposed political reforms to weaken the organization’s authority. The bill was approved in a Senate vote following protests that extended across several Mexican states.
Nationwide Protests
The decision to approve the INE reforms has sparked widespread outrage due to its potential of making the INE less powerful and open to political interference. The reaction from public has been massive, with citizens from all parts of the country taking to the streets in various forms of protest.
To express their discontent, protesters have gathered in cities such as:
- Mexico City
- Tijuana
- Cancun
- Merida
- Monterrey
In these cities, protesters have performed many non-violent acts, including blocking motorways and staging sit-ins. Despite the police presence, many demonstrators have remained firm in their ambitions to seek justice.
The Search For Change
The demonstrations have highlighted the collective anger of the Mexican people over the INE reforms and the ongoing struggles to secure free and fair elections. In the face of the controversial bill, protesters remain committed to their cause, working towards a common goal of achieving democracy.
It remains to be seen how the issue will play out and whether the protests will be successful in overturning the proposed reforms. Nevertheless, it is clear that the move has generated a groundswell of public opposition and serves as a potent symbol of the country’s fight for justice and accountability.
This past Saturday, tens of thousands of Mexicans took to the streets of Mexico City as a sign of protest against President Enrique Peña Nieto’s proposed overhaul of the country’s election watchdog. The demonstrations, which took place all across the country, were organized by citizen groups and opposition parties in response to a law recently passed by Congress that would transfer most of the authority of the National Electoral Institute (INE) to an electoral court appointed by the executive.
The new court would be the highest authority in charge of organizing and overseeing Mexico’s federal elections, replacing the INE, which was set up in the 1990s to ensure that all elections were fair and free of fraud. The protesters argued that the court’s independence would be compromised since it would be appointed by the president, making it vulnerable to government influence.
Furthermore, the protesters argued that the creation of the new court would hamper Mexico’s progress towards democratic transparency and accountability, which has been a long-term struggle. They believe the formation of the court would undermine citizens’ confidence in the electoral process out of fear that their voices would not be heard and their votes manipulated.
Though the law has yet to be signed by Peña Nieto, he has signaled his intention to do so by next week. Meanwhile, opposition parties have challenged the law in the Supreme Court, asking for an injunction against the president in order to prevent him from signing it. The protests showed that Mexicans do not accept the proposed changes, and will continue to pressure the government to protect democracy in the country.