Spain and the Americas Democratic Initiative (IDEA Group) Expresses Concern Over Mexico’s Rule of Law
The Spain and the Americas Democratic Initiative (IDEA Group) expressed concern over what it considers a deterioration of the rule of law in Mexico. In the document, the forum of former heads of state and government questioned the reform of the judicial system and criticized the popular election of judges, arguing that partisan and ideological criteria have prevailed in that process.
The statement focuses its criticism on the case of former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel, who is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) for charges related to illegal fuel operations known as “huachicol fiscal.” The IDEA Group stated that his arrest constitutes a “political persecution carried out from power” and argued that principles such as due process and the presumption of innocence were violated during the proceedings.
According to the organization, the use of justice institutions to target political opponents represents a risk to democracy and sends a message of intimidation toward those who disagree with those in power.
“The situation of Ruffo Appel presents unmistakable characteristics of political persecution carried out from power. When deprivation of liberty is used to punish dissent, publicly discredit an opponent, and turn the justice system into a mechanism of intimidation, the condition of political prisoner ceases to be a slogan and becomes a serious accusation regarding the deterioration of the rule of law.”
The statement was signed by 25 former heads of state and government from Ibero-America, including PAN members Felipe Calderón and Vicente Fox Quesada (Mexico).
Other signatories include: José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy (Spain); Iván Duque M., Andrés Pastrana, and Álvaro Uribe V. (Colombia); Jeanine Añez, Carlos Mesa G., and Jorge Tuto Quiroga (Bolivia); Óscar Arias S. and Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (Costa Rica); Luis Guillermo Lasso, Jamil Mahuad, and Lenín Moreno (Ecuador); Mireya Moscoso and Ernesto Pérez Balladares (Panama); Mario Abdo, Federico Franco, and Juan Carlos Wasmosy (Paraguay); as well as Mauricio Macri (Argentina), Eduardo Frei (Chile), Alfredo Cristiani (El Salvador), Hipólito Mejía (Dominican Republic), and Luis Alberto Lacalle (Uruguay).
What Is the IDEA Group?
The Spain and the Americas Democratic Initiative (IDEA) is an international forum made up of former heads of state and government. Since its creation in April 2015, during the VII Summit of the Americas in Panama, it has issued statements regarding democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in different countries across the region.
The organization states that it operates from civil society and that its members participate under principles of independence, autonomy, and respect for pluralism.
Morena Rejects the Accusations
In response, Morena’s national president, Ariadna Montiel Reyes, rejected the IDEA Group’s criticisms and argued that it is an attempt to bring an issue that belongs exclusively to Mexican justice institutions into the international arena.
The party leader stated that several members of the organization “lack moral authority to give lessons to the people of Mexico,” arguing that some of them led governments accused of acts of repression, espionage, and human rights violations.
Regarding the case of Ernesto Ruffo Appel, Morena stated that the former governor is facing an investigation that began more than a year ago over alleged customs and financial operations, as well as his alleged connection to the seizure of more than 15 million liters of fuel found in 129 tanker trucks.
The party also stated that Ruffo Appel has had access to due process guarantees, has legal representation, and that a federal judge decided to bind him over for trial after a hearing that lasted more than 24 hours.
Source: mexicodailypost
