Congress in Mexico overturns AMLO electoral reform, but president tries plan B

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies rejected this Tuesday (6) a controversial bill presented by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that intended to reform the INE (National Electoral Institute), the body responsible for organizing the polls and ensuring their fairness. Parliamentarians critical of the proposal stated that the text had the potential to undermine the country’s electoral independence.

The bill, which needed a two-thirds majority to pass, had 269 votes in favor and 225 against. With the defeat, President AMLO has already started an alternative path to carry out his reform — hours before the vote, he sent another proposal to the Chamber, considered more flexible and with a simpler procedure.

The new bill has as its main objective the reorganization of INE’s administrative attributions, as well as the extinction of positions that, according to the government, would allow a reduction of US$ 150 million (R$ 825 million) per year in public expenses.

Pointed out as a threat to democracy, the project mobilized thousands of people who took to the streets in repudiation of the text. Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have endorsed the criticism, saying that the initiative jeopardizes the continuation of “free and fair” elections in Mexico – AMLO says the proposal strengthens democracy and reduces the influence of economic interests in politics.

In recent months, the Mexican president has insisted on accusations of corruption and lack of transparency against his country’s electoral authority. He has also been encouraging supporters to criticize the agency.

At the core of this movement is a shift to authoritarianism with the right to controversial measures such as the increase in the functions that can be performed by the Armed Forces, the lack of action to contain a growing number of murdered journalists and now the project to reform the electoral body.