On 19 August 2008, International IDEA organized a seminar specifically to address the problems arising from the implementation of the most recent federal electoral reform in Mexico.
25 Mexican experts participated in the event. The Heads of the two main electoral bodies of Mexico, Leonardo Valdés Zurita (President of The Electoral Federal Institute, IFE), and María del Carmen Alanís (President of The Electoral Tribunal) were among the participants, as well as local electoral authorities, scholars, journalists, representatives of civil organizations, and federal government authorities.
Participants at the seminar in Mexico, 19 August 2008Participants dealt with topics such as media access, funding, financial issues and a general view of electoral reform. Emphasis was given to issues of dispute along with regulatory and institutional weaknesses that emerged while implementing the new legal framework. Examples of the most relevant problems of the reform process include:
- Some in the media and academia argue that the restraints on advertising amount to a violation of the principle of freedom of expression, and that electoral bodies are being forced to censor media content which poses a risk to the credibility of these electoral bodies. This new model intends to make the electoral race more equitable by means of a general regulation that prevents parties and people from purchasing radio and television spots, and the use of the so called “black propaganda” to influence voters. Confusion has arisen about the powers of electoral authorities.
- There is concern that the cumbersome nature of the rules and high cost of operating IFE’s new Finance Unit could end up being counter-productive and weaken the impact of these new measures. Opponents of the reform also question the ability of these new financial tools in achieving their aim of controlling the increasingly notorious illegal funding to parties and campaigns. This problem becomes even more relevant in light of the current challenge of organized crime and drug dealing in Mexico.
Yet, in general, the experts believe that the electoral reforms addressed the series of problems that became evident in the last two presidential elections.
The seminar brought together a range of political participants from opposing points of view in a constructive forum and proved to be a very timely and appropriate exercise. International IDEA’s reputation as a facilitator with no hidden agenda allowed the event to be widely supported and well attended. The seminar is part of the Collaboration Agreement between International IDEA and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECI).
