A demonstration is planned in Guadalajara Sunday, February 26 against reforms that opponents say will lessen the independence of the National Electoral Institute (INE), regulatory body that oversees elections.
Wednesday, the Mexican Senate passed a controversial bill that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says will save more than $US150 million a year by shutting many regional INE offices and reducing personnel. Even though the last few elections have been deemed mostly fraud-free, the president believes too many “conservative” elements within the INE infrastructure still prevail, which threaten the legitimacy of future contests. On the other side, critics argue that stripping INE of its powers is a backward step for democracy in Mexico, and a shameless power grab by AMLO’s increasingly authoritative regime. Protests are also planned Sunday in Mexico City and other major cities.