Mexico - February 2023

After initial discussion and approval in December by the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, on 22 February Congress passed the “Plan B” electoral reform, which entered into force on 3 March. In response, on 26 February large demonstrations took place across the country against what protesters say are attempts to undermine the electoral authorities, particularly the National Electoral Institute (INE). 

Since the reform was first proposed, it has been met with extensive international and nationwide criticism, as it effectively reduces the structure, staff, and power of the National Electoral Institute (INE), impacts its autonomy, loosens restrictions on campaigning and propaganda as well as weakens INE’s enforcement capabilities on the subject. Some opponents have described the reform as an attack on democracy itself and have expressed concern over how the overhaul to INE’s structure will obstruct its ability to effectively organize and oversee elections. The reform also includes provisions related to the vote of Mexicans living abroad and electronic voting. Mexico’s opposition parties and the INE have filed constitutional challenges before the Supreme Court (SCJN), which is expected to consider them in the coming months. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador denies the reforms are a threat to democracy and argues the Plan B’s measures will increase the efficiency of the electoral system, result in savings of hundreds of millions of dollars a year and reduce the influence of economic interests in politics. 

Sources: The New York Times, El Pais, El Universal, Reuters 

The Mexican Airspace Protection Law, which will grant the Ministry of Defense (SEDENA) authority to coordinate surveillance of Mexican airspace, was approved by parliament this month. The reform proposes an airspace monitoring and protection center comprised of six federal agencies under the coordination of SEDENA and is expected to be signed into law by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. 

The new system aims to introduce “measures, actions and processes to preserve the security, sovereignty and independence of national airspace.” President López Obrador argues that there exists a legal vacuum regarding the protection of airspace. However, concerns have been raised by the opposition and rights organizations that, by enhancing the power of SEDENA and reducing civilian oversight, the initiative is another step towards the consolidation of militarization in Mexico. 

Sources: Expansión Politica, El País, Reuters, Senado de la República 

On 21 February, a federal District Court in New York convicted Genaro García Luna, former Public Security Minister, on five counts relating to conspiring to traffic and distribute cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise, and taking millions in cash bribes from a major drug trafficking organisation while holding official positions. García Luna is one of the highest-ranking Mexican officials ever convicted of ties to drug trafficking. He is the former head of Mexico's Federal Investigation Agency and served as the country's Public Security Minister in the cabinet of former president Felipe Calderon. 

García Luna has denied the allegations, for which he faces a minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. The sentence is expected to be imposed in June. 

Sources: The New York Times, El Pais, United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York