After failing to reach the 334 votes required for approval, the electoral reform promoted by Mexican Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, which incorporated some points addressed by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), was rejected in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies.
The proposal, which received 259 votes in favor and 234 against, included a 10-point constitutional reform, encompassing modifications such as reducing the number of senators, cutting campaign financing, and reevaluating the proportional representation system.
Among the most significant changes were the reduction in the number of senators, the cut in public funding for political parties, and a restructuring of the proportional representation system.
The rejection of the reform is seen by experts as the failure of one of the president’s biggest campaign promises and came after a lack of support from legislators of the Labor Party (PT) and the Green Party of Mexico (PVEM), despite their holding a large majority in the legislature.
Sheinbaum, who took office on October 1, 2024, defined this electoral reform at the time as a kind of “decalogue of democracy” which, according to her, would regulate crucial issues, starting in 2030, such as the prohibition of immediate reelection.
The rejection of the proposed electoral reform stemmed from a lack of support from allies of the ruling Morena party. However, legislators from various political fronts expressed concerns about the measures contained in the bill.
On one hand, Carlos Puente, coordinator of the Green Party of Mexico, stated that, in his view, the conditions for allocating electoral funds equally must be guaranteed.
On the other hand, Reginaldo Sandoval, coordinator of the Labor Party legislators, indicated his opposition to the formation of what could become a “hegemonic” party.
In this regard, Ricardo Monreal, coordinator of the ruling Morena party, indicated that a kind of plan B is being developed to allow the changes promoted by the rejected electoral reform to be implemented without constitutional amendments, but rather through the support of parliamentary groups that would allow them to be approved by a simple majority.
Despite the fact that the proposed reform enjoyed popular support, the scenario anticipated by some analysts came to pass, as it failed, marking this legislative defeat with the opposition of those who had been its allies.
Since the announcement of its presentation, representatives of opposition parties such as the National Action Party (PAN) have rejected the proposal, arguing that it would threaten the country’s political pluralism.
Source: france24
