Observatorio Electoral Judicial Highlights Issues in Recent Judicial Election
Members of the Observatorio Electoral Judicial (OEJ) have labeled the recent judicial election as a “sham electoral process” and a step backward in democracy, which needs correction through new reforms leading up to the 2027 judicial elections.
Key Findings and Concerns
- Lack of Democratic Guarantees: The process on June 1, 2025, was deemed devoid of democratic guarantees with systematic violations of legality, certainty, equity, and free suffrage principles.
- Historical Regression: The 2025 judicial election was described as a historical setback, as the judicial reform did not aim to improve justice but instead sought to purge, capture, and weaken the country’s judicial powers.
- Unfair Candidate Registration: Hundreds of candidacies were registered without thorough evaluation, affecting fairness in the competition. Meanwhile, despite multiple resources and impugnations, electoral and judicial authorities chose inaction or validation of irregularities.
- Need for Urgent Reforms: The OEJ emphasized that modifications for the upcoming 2027 electoral process are necessary and urgent. They warn against repeating the mistakes of the past, such as the lack of consensus and deliberation.
Expert Opinion
Arturo Espinosa Silva, director of Laboratorio Electoral, posed a question to legislators and political parties: “Would you participate in a legislative or executive election under these rules? Could Andrés Manuel López Obrador or Claudia Sheinbaum have won without controlling the entire system?”
Reported Irregularities
Unequal Ballot Design
The report highlighted multiple irregularities, including unequal ballot design, illegal campaigning, and disparate participation among candidacies. One striking statistic showed that out of 133 individuals with the highest probability of winning based on ballot design alone, 108 were elected. Conversely, out of 304 with lower probabilities, 275 were defeated. The OEJ concluded that ballots “substituted” citizens’ preferences.
Illegal Social Media Campaigns
The report also identified 394 candidacies that received illegal social media campaign support, funded by undisclosed resources totaling between 2.2 and 3.1 million pesos.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What did the OEJ find problematic about the recent judicial election? A: The OEJ identified numerous issues, including a lack of democratic guarantees, historical regression in the judicial reform, unfair candidate registration, and systematic violations of electoral principles.
- Q: Why does the OEJ call for urgent reforms? A: The OEJ believes that any future reforms must avoid the mistakes of the past, such as the lack of consensus and deliberation, to ensure fair and democratic judicial elections.
- Q: What irregularities did the report uncover? A: The report highlighted unequitable ballot design, illegal campaigning on social media, and disparate participation among candidacies.
