Morena and allies consolidate coup against the Electoral Institute

Amid confusion and accusations, the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies endorsed, after suppressing a Senate amendment, various reforms in electoral matters and government propaganda, known as “plan b” of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The session lasted more than 11 hours, of which five were in recess due to the differences between the ruling party legislators, due to the amendments made in the Senate so that political parties had the option of nominating candidates under the common candidacy figure. and, thus, being able to agree among political forces on the distribution of votes, which would help them to preserve their registration.

The majority of Morena and its allies, the PT and PVEM, approved the reforms that add and repeal various provisions of the General Law of Electoral Institutions and Procedures, of the General Law of Political Parties, of the Organic Law of the Judiciary of the Federation , of the General Law of Social Communication, of the General Law of Administrative Responsibilities and that is issued by the General Law of the Means of Challenge in Electoral Matters.

Although it was expected that the opinion on electoral reform, coming from the Senate with several modifications, would be voted without changes by the deputies, for its subsequent publication, at the last moment the Parliamentary Group of the PVEM requested to eliminate number two of article 12 of the General Law of Electoral Institutions and Procedures.

And it is that, very early yesterday, President López Obrador had already warned that said modification was contrary to his movement, and the law would be completely vetoed if it was not eliminated, which motivated the PVEM to retract its proposal.

As stated by Carlos Puente Salas, PVEM coordinator in San Lázaro, it was a lie that what was approved in the Senate was an “eternal life clause” for his party since it has never been at risk. At the same time, he denied any lawsuit or confrontation with his legislative allies: Morena and PT, over the issue.

During the discussion, deputy Leonel Godoy Rangel (Morena) assured that his parliamentary group does not want to have electoral authorities by way of and, he added, that the National Electoral Institute (INE) has already been touched.

Meanwhile, from the PRI parliamentary group, deputy Cynthia Iliana López Castro stated that “‘plan b’ of the electoral reform” is full of inconsistencies, in addition to increasing the costs of the INE; puts the integrity of the Electoral Roll at risk and eliminates the Federal Register of Voters.

Coupled with the disappearance of the 300 district boards, which means that fair elections cannot be guaranteed.

“Attacking the INE weakens democracy and the reliability of the elections,” he asserted.

Approved Changes

Among the modifications embodied in the electoral reform, the actions of both the INE and the Electoral Tribunal regarding their interpretations were limited; establish various measures to protect public resources related to the electoral process, the National Electoral System is created, made up of the concurrent powers of the National Electoral Institute (INE) as the governing authority and the Local Public Organizations (OPL) in the federal entities.

The organic structure of the INE and the OPLs is compacted; the administrative branch of the National Electoral Professional Service is eliminated.

Establishes a specific criteria and number of candidacies from vulnerable groups; determines the obligation of political parties and coalitions to nominate men and women in 50% parity to integrate positions in collegiate bodies and also in single-member candidacies.

The reform was turned over to the Federal Executive in terms of the articles that were not modified and which are those that reduce the structure of the INE and the new law on means of challenge.

While the changes related to the common candidacies were referred back to the Senate of the Republic for analysis and eventual voting.

maritza.perez@eleconomista.mx