Morena Fined for Unreported Campaign Expenses
The National Electoral Institute (INE) approved a fine of over 21.6 million pesos against Morena for failing to report campaign expenses related to billboard posters, banners, and spectaculars during the 2024 electoral process. Morena was also penalized for not adhering to mechanisms for submitting campaign reports of candidates for federal deputies and senators in the same election.
In compliance with a ruling from the Monterrey Regional Chamber of the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF), the INE had to reduce the sanctions imposed on Morena for omitting campaign cost reporting, as it was found that there was an improper evaluation and classification of findings, which was confirmed by the Supreme Chamber.
Revised Sanctions Amount
Upon recalculating, the INE determined that the total sanction amount would be 21 million 614,050 pesos: 3 million 423,420.74 pesos for not respecting mechanisms for submitting precampaign reports and 18 million 190,630.69 pesos for failing to report expenses related to billboard advertisements, wall painting, banners, and spectaculars in the 2023-2024 Federal Election Process.
PT Also Penalized
The INE approved maintaining a sanction against the Party of the Democratic Center (PT) for 4 million 621,500.74 pesos for failing to present a properly required document for canceling outstanding balances. Additionally, another sanction of 868.80 pesos was imposed, as the initial offense categorized as serious was reclassified as minor.
INE Addresses Political Violence Against Women
Social Media Posts Ordered Removed Due to Gender-Based Political Violence
The INE’s Complaints and Appeals Commission ordered the removal of several social media posts that could be considered expressions of Political Violence Against Women Based on Gender (VPMRG) against a judicial power candidate.
According to the complaint, a social media account named Jenifer Luján García contained offensive and stigmatizing expressions that reinforce gender stereotypes, as well as focusing on the personal life of a candidate.
As a result, the complained-of user and Instagram were ordered to remove the post within 12 hours, and it was deemed inappropriate to adopt a preventive safeguard measure since there was no evident illegality in the reported facts.
Unsuccessful Cautelary Measures Against Former Candidate
A citizen filed a complaint against a former candidate for Magistrate of the Judicial Discipline Tribunal for allegedly disseminating prohibited propaganda and providing in-kind benefits by placing billboards in Xalapa, Veracruz, and spreading content on social media, including a link to download a digital book.
However, the Commission deemed it inappropriate to adopt cautelary measures since the propaganda on billboards had been removed, and thus, the reported acts were consummated and irreparable.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the reason for the fine against Morena? Morena was fined for not reporting campaign expenses related to billboard posters, banners, and spectaculars during the 2024 electoral process and for not adhering to mechanisms for submitting campaign reports of candidates for federal deputies and senators.
- What was the total amount of the fine? The total fine imposed on Morena was 21 million 614,050 pesos.
- What was the PT penalized for? The PT was penalized for failing to present a properly required document for canceling outstanding balances and for an initially serious offense that was reclassified as minor.
- What actions did the INE take regarding political violence against women? The INE ordered the removal of social media posts containing expressions that could be considered VPMRG against a judicial power candidate and deemed it inappropriate to adopt preventive safeguard measures against a former candidate for Magistrate of the Judicial Discipline Tribunal.
