Citizens and civil society groups are seeking to gather the 120,000 signatures needed to present a historic anti-corruption initiative to the Jalisco Congress.
The proposed bill, officially titled the General Law of Administrative Responsibilities but better known as “Ley 3de3” could be discussed in Congress as early as this spring.
The grassroots initiative represents the first time in Mexico’s history that civil society has attempted to directly produce legislation. The intention is to channel public indignation about corruption and impunity and push for a more honest and effective government. If the initiative is approved, corrupt officials could be removed from their posts and prevented from returning to office.
The campaign is the result of the failure of political parties and legislators to create their own effective bills. Authorities seem to be “just too corrupt to create an anticorruption law with real teeth,” said Enrique Cardenas, the coordinator of the drafting committee of Ley 3de3.
In Jalisco, the civil organization Wikipolitica is responsible for the collection of signatures.
The proposed bill requires politicians and officials to make three types of declaration. The first is a declaration of assets - which properties, businesses and accounts do politicians and officials own? The second is a declaration of interests and allegiances – where have they worked? Who are their close friends, relatives and financial backers? The third is a tax statement – are they paying the correct rate of tax?
Support for the cause has already been strong, although collecting the signatures is not an easy task.
The hashtag #Yafirme (I signed) has flooded social media, and the initiative is backed by Coparmex, one of the main chambers of commerce in Mexico, which is asking all of its members to sign the bill.
Even the pharmacy chain Farmacias Similares is backing the bill by allowing their locations to accept the required hard copy signatures of those supporting the campaign.
If the initiative to collect signatures is successful, Wikipolitica coordinator Paola Flores believes the reaction of congress to the proposed bill will be telling. “If they vote against it or if they make one or 1000 changes and transform it into something it is not we will all realize that their commitment to ending corruption is completely false.”
Allegations of corruption have been a persistent issue for the current administration. President Enrique Peña Nieto, his wife and several ministers have been involved in scandals that have damaged the current government’s approval ratings.