New Electoral Watchdog Agency Starts Work Under Cloud of Suspicion

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Article from SourceMex, April 9

The Congress approved comprehensive election reforms in 2011 and 2013 with the intention of creating greater transparency in the voting process in Mexico and allowing greater direct citizen participation in the electoral process. The new laws have resulted in a few improvements in the country’s electoral structure, including the right of candidates not affiliated with any political party to run for office and a provision that allows for citizen consultations. Critics say, however, that the new structure did not bring transformation to Mexico’s political landscape; only token changes along with major obstacles to the democratic process. One change introduced by the 2013 reforms was to replace the electoral watchdog agency, the Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE), with a more independent and transparent agency called the Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE). Critics have also suggested that the INE will differ little from the IFE, since the new institute appears to be serving the interests of the establishment political parties, particularly the governing Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI). Carlos Navarro Read More