Mexico: Thousands march against electoral reform proposal
Mexico: Thousands march against electoral reform proposal
On Sunday, a massive crowd gathered in Mexico to show their support for the electoral authority of the country. The “March for Democracy” saw thousands of people coming together to express their concerns about President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s alleged attempts to undermine the authority before the upcoming June election.
Claudia Sheinbaum, the leading Morena party candidate, officially registered on the same day. Pledging to uphold most of Lopez Obrador’s policies, she holds a substantial 64% lead in the polls. Her main competitor, Xochitl Galvez, trails behind with around 31% in the polls.
What additional information can we gather about the protests?
The event saw a participation of 700,000 individuals, as stated by the organizers. The protests were initiated by Mexico’s opposition parties.
In the heart of Mexico City, numerous individuals dressed in pink and white gathered at the main square, passionately chanting “get Lopez out.”
Lopez Obrador expressed his disapproval of the protests on Friday.
“They are staging this demonstration ostensibly in defense of democracy while paradoxically advocating for the resurgence of corruption, showcasing a contradiction in their stated priorities,” he remarked.
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The demonstrations follow Lopez Obrador’s submission of a proposal to reform the National Electoral Institute (INE) to Congress, which is part of a series of constitutional reforms.
The organization proposes reducing the number of counselors leading and mandates electing electoral judges through popular vote.
Lorenzo Cordova, the former head of the INE, expressed concerns during a protest, stating, “Authorities are attempting to eliminate (autonomous institutions), to subordinate them, or to take control of them. We have witnessed a fierce assault on these institutions.”
Lopez Obrador claims that the INE played a role in his electoral losses in 2006 and 2012. He has also criticized Mexico’s judiciary, alleging that judges are part of a conservative plot against his administration.
Critics argue that the president is targeting the INE to consolidate power within the ruling Morena party.
