Sunday, April 17, 2011

The mechanism of referendum may be approved as part of political reform

Reportedly, the Mexican Senate is inching forward toward an agreement on the mechanism of referendum, where popular consultations and citizen initiatives would be part of the capital-letter "Political Reform" currently being discussed (though perennially stagnated in the not exactly too hard-working Senate).

How it would work:
- The Mexican Congress would be in charge of designing the question
- The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) would be in charge of organizing the referendum
- Should the result of the vote be a 50% majority-plus-one-vote or larger, the referendum would be binding for the congress.

Certain "padlocks" are in place, however:
- Citizens cannot question/put up for a vote electoral results
- One cannot vote over the state's incomes and expenses
- National security and functioning of armed forces not up for vote
- Rights enshrined in the Constitution cannot be a subject of referendum.