The General Council of the National Electoral Institute (INE) rejected the request from the Legislative Power to cancel 26 candidacies, including those of possible narcocandidates, highlighting that it is not the appropriate legal moment and that this would harm the rights of participants in the electoral process. The decision aims to provide certainty without issuing definitive judgments prematurely.
"Making value judgments for or against, 24 days before the election, could adversely affect the contest, and that is not the role of the institute," pointed out Guadalupe Taddei Zavala, president counselor of the INE. The INE counselors expressed their views on the matter, with Jorge Montaño being a critic of the lack of powers granted to the INE by the judicial reform concerning the registration of candidacies, warning that this could mean an "invasion of competences."
Counselors Dania Ravel, Carla Humphrey, and Arturo Castillo emphasized the importance of respecting the division of competences and reminded that the suitability of candidates should be evaluated by the committees designated by the different powers. Likewise, Claudia Zavala questioned the request to withdraw candidacies for failing to meet a basic requirement that the evaluation committees should have considered.
The agreement approved by the INE states that the institute will be receptive to receiving information about possible violations of eligibility requirements of candidates until three days before the assignment of positions. The counselors highlighted the importance of institutional responsibility in this unprecedented election, emphasizing the need to carefully evaluate the decisions made to avoid potential biases that could affect the electoral process.
