I am not a legal expert, but it seems to me that Mexico's Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE) has truly gone overboard this time, far beyond its rights and duties: A couple of days ago, IFE decided to sanction the PRD and PAN for having held a debate among "pre-candidates," or among those vying to be their party's nominee for the governorship of Nayarit.
This in effect bans what are really primaries, and is an enormous extension of the IFE's reach.
The PT and Convergencia, to their discredit, had complained that a PAN and a PRD candidate, without officially having become their party's nominee, held a televised debate months ago, and IFE now struck it down as illegal.
Yes, holding a political debate is illegal until one is the party's nominee.
Waiting for a an AMLO-Ebrard televised showdown? A Peña Nieto-Beltrones debate over who has the best program? Forget it - IFE has banned it.
This is truly preposterous.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Setback for abortion rights: Extremist state-level abortion legislation left standing
The Supreme Court voted 7-4 in Mexico to overturn extremist anti-abortion legislation on the state level (in Baja California), but it wasn't enough: Eight votes were needed.
This is tragic news, on very many levels. In Baja California (and possibly SLP - vote still pending over its legislation), many, many, women will die from unsanitary illegal abortions or will denied having abortions even if giving birth may cause their death. In other states, PRI and PAN local legislators will feel emboldened by the Supreme Court decision to press similar legislation.
The PRD and parts of PRI rightfully criticized Calderón's shameful intervention in the debate yesterday, threatening to push legislation to withdraw Mexico's reservations against the 1969 San José Pact.
The day after pill? Forget it; it will now be defined as murder.
A miscarriage? Unless you can prove it, you may be facing murder charges.
A sad day yesterday for Mexican women and human rights.
This is tragic news, on very many levels. In Baja California (and possibly SLP - vote still pending over its legislation), many, many, women will die from unsanitary illegal abortions or will denied having abortions even if giving birth may cause their death. In other states, PRI and PAN local legislators will feel emboldened by the Supreme Court decision to press similar legislation.
The PRD and parts of PRI rightfully criticized Calderón's shameful intervention in the debate yesterday, threatening to push legislation to withdraw Mexico's reservations against the 1969 San José Pact.
The day after pill? Forget it; it will now be defined as murder.
A miscarriage? Unless you can prove it, you may be facing murder charges.
A sad day yesterday for Mexican women and human rights.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)