The Mexican Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) has approved an $800 million MXN budget increase for the National Electoral Institute (INE) to fund the upcoming judicial elections. While the INE initially requested $1.5 billion MXN, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that, for now, only $800 million MXN will be allocated.
With this funding, INE will begin installing 83,000 polling stations across the country, ensuring the electoral process runs smoothly. However, political tensions have risen as the judicial selection process faces legal challenges.
Judicial Election Controversy: Disqualified Candidates Challenge Exclusion
While the budget approval is a significant step, the judicial election process has been marred by disputes. Several candidates who were excluded from the election lists have filed legal appeals, claiming irregularities in the selection process.
The Superior Chamber of the Electoral Tribunal ruled against these appeals, stating that while some errors occurred in the selection process, they were not significant enough to warrant a new lottery drawing for judicial candidates.
Among the disqualified candidates is former legislator Roberto Gil Zuarth, who had aimed for a seat on Mexico’s Supreme Court.
Judicial Tribunal Divided Over Candidate Selection Process
The ruling sparked heated debates among magistrates, with some arguing that:
- The selection process should be redone to correct errors.
- The lottery draw was already conducted, making changes legally impractical.
- The Senate should correct specific errors affecting individual candidates.
Despite these disagreements, the Tribunal confirmed the final candidate lists and upheld the results of the lottery-based selection process.
Legal and Political Reactions to Candidate Exclusions
Legal experts and political analysts have criticized the ruling, questioning whether the selection committee had unchecked discretion in determining which candidates qualified.
Magistrate Janine Otálora emphasized that all candidates should have equal opportunities to compete, proposing a case-by-case review of exclusions. Meanwhile, Magistrate Reyes Rodríguez Mondragón argued that:
«Evaluation committees must justify why they excluded certain candidates. Discretionary power does not mean arbitrary decision-making.»
This raises concerns about transparency and fairness in the judicial election process.
What’s Next for Mexico’s Judicial Elections?
With the INE securing partial funding and the candidate selection remaining disputed, the upcoming judicial elections face two major challenges:
- Ensuring an efficient election process with a reduced budget.
- Addressing concerns over candidate exclusions to maintain electoral legitimacy.
The elections will not only shape Mexico’s judicial system but also test the country’s democratic institutions.
