Sheinbaum reiterates her intention to implement new electoral reforms

President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced that she will promote electoral reforms to reduce the budget of the National Electoral Institute (INE), the funds received by political parties through prerogatives, and the number of federal deputies and senators with proportional or plurinominal representation, among other issues.

From the National Palace, during his daily morning press conference, he stated that the INE overstepped its authority by debating the votes and the annulment of voting booths in the last Federal Judicial Branch (PJF) election, and that there are electoral advisors with a clear political stance.

"For example, now the INE—from my point of view—went too far in saying that 'there were votes that shouldn't have been included in the final result.' That's the job of the Electoral Tribunal (of the Federal Judicial Branch), not the INE; the Tribunal has that authority, the National Electoral Institute doesn't. Now, they want to review who knows what, when that's not their job."

"So, yes, they are a group of councilors who do not act to fulfill the will of the people, which is ultimately what democracy is, but rather have a political position that translates into: 'anything that is against the government of the Fourth Transformation must be voted against,' regardless of what it is or what is presented."

At the INE, he insisted, there are advisors whose sole function is to attack the federal government.

"And returning to the topic of the INE, it's the same thing. It has to do with a ploy and not with the role of an electoral advisor, who really has to do with ensuring clear elections and the functions they have. So, (the electoral initiative) will come in due time."

The announced electoral reform, he explained, is part of his government commitments.

"I have 100 points for electoral reform, which is needed, and we will present it at the appropriate time. Because it has to do with the amount of resources used for the INE—the election cost 8 billion pesos just now—the amount of resources used in elections, the amount of resources the INE has, the amount of resources available to political parties and other forms of government. Also the plurinominal elections."

Changes would come in September

Yesterday, Ricardo Monreal, Morena's coordinator in San Lázaro and president of the Political Coordination Board, supported Sheinbaum's decision to introduce a new electoral reform, which will be discussed starting next September during the regular session.

Monreal argued that every president in recent years has implemented reforms in this area, so this shouldn't be surprising.

"I remember that since 1988, every six years after the presidential election, there have been electoral reforms, and this time will be no exception," he said.