The Senate unanimously approved in general the reform proposed by President Claudia Sheinbaum to prohibit nepotism and re-election in public office. However, Morena managed to delay its entry into force until the year 2030, after presenting a modification to the original proposal.
In the debate, Adán Augusto López, coordinator of Morena in the Senate, mentioned that the agreed timeframe would benefit Senator Ruth González Silva, who is expected to succeed her husband Ricardo Gallardo in the government of San Luis Potosí. This modification, according to López, would allow the initiative to take effect in future elections without affecting those already in office.
Claudia Sheinbaum had highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating that it seeks to prevent relatives from directly replacing others in elected positions, thus avoiding nepotism. The proposal, which will now be sent to the Chamber of Deputies, hopes for swift approval given the majority that Morena and its allies have in that legislative body.
The reform to six constitutional articles also establishes the prohibition of re-election at all levels of government and legislative bodies. Furthermore, it states that individuals with direct family ties to previous occupants of a public office cannot be candidates for elections for three years following that family member's term.
Morena's modification that postpones the prohibition of nepotism until 2030 has generated criticism from figures such as Marko Cortes, a senator from the PAN, who accused Adán Augusto López of seeking to delay the initiative to favor particular political interests. In response to these criticisms, López denied any secret negotiations and reiterated that the postponement was backed by various Morena senators.
In this context, the approval of the reform to prohibit nepotism is now in the hands of the Chamber of Deputies for analysis and possible voting. Meanwhile, discussions in the Senate have revealed differences of opinion and positions among the various political actors involved in the process.
