OAS Voice's Election Observer Serious Concerns on Mexican Controversial Judicial Elections
Mexico City (AP) – The election regulator of the U.S. state organization expressed concerns Friday about the low turnout for Mexico's historic and controversial judicial elections, suggesting that American countries do not follow their path.
The election mission said in a report that the June 1 election was “extremely complex” and “polarized” and marked by a “general lack of awareness” of voters’ votes on their votes and the identities of thousands of candidates.
In Sunday's vote, the Mexicans elected 881 federal judges and another 1,800 state judges as part of a comprehensive reform of the judiciary. The process was carried out after constitutional reforms approved by Congress, which was a majority in the ruling party. The overhaul has promoted protests and criticism from the Mexican and U.S. and Canadian governments, which warned of the potential loss of judicial independence and the politicization of Mexican justice.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and his overhaul mentor and architect, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, claimed that they wanted to take root in the judiciary with corruption, which most Mexicans agreed was damaged.
Mexico's election agency this week said voter turnout was 13%, significantly lower than the 60% turnout in last year's general election.
In a report on Friday, the OAS mission, led by Chilean Foreign Minister Heral do Muñoz Valenzuela, expressed concerns about “low levels of citizen participation” and noted that “it is one of the lowest turnouts in the region”. Observers also pointed out that the “high percentage” of invalid ballots, more than 10%.
The report concluded: “It is necessary to reflect on the nature of the (election) process.”
The OAS observation mission, composed of 16 members, also raised concerns about nine candidates who joined the Mexico Supreme Court, who were promoted in the physical and digital cheat sheet. “While political parties are not allowed to advocate for candidates, the brochure known as the “accordion” guides voters to vote for wide distribution.
Mexican election authorities investigated complaints about the ruling Morena Party and other opposition groups that distributed voter guidelines in communities in the capital and other cities within the weeks leading up to the voter. The agency also ordered a website that contained a digital cheat sheet that was consistent with Morena's candidates for the Supreme Court and other top courts to be cancelled.
OAS observers also noted that six of the nine candidates elected to the High Court were nominated by the government controlled by Morena, while the remaining three were justices appointed by López Obrador, “this raised reasonable doubts about the autonomy and independence of the Supreme Court with the Executive.”
Based on the findings, the mission concluded: “It does not recommend replication of this judge selection model in other countries in the region.”
Despite the criticism, Sheinbaum praised the election this week, calling it a success.
