Monday, January 3, 2011

Ahead of 2011 Mexico State election: PRI majority in state electoral institute and tribunal

When Mexico State goes to the urns on July 3 this year, the ruling PRI can count on a majority both on the state´s electoral institute (Instituto Electoral del Estado de México, IEEM), which organizes the elections, and on the state electoral tribunal (Tribunal Electoral del Estado de México, TEEM), which has the final word in approving them.

Given that the make-up of both institutions reflect the make-up of the state congress, where PRI since 2009 holds a majority, this is not illegal, but is yet another sad case of the "partyization" of these all-important electoral organs, where parties use their strength in congress to send "their" councilors and electoral judges to the IEEM and TEEM, rather than objective and neutral individuals selected for their qualifications.

Given PRI´s historic propensity for institutional transgressions, as well as Mexico State Governor Enrique Peña Nieto´s eagerness to change Mexico State institutions and laws at his whim, we might be in for serious post-electoral trouble the coming July.

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