Understanding the Concept of Mid-Term Revocation of Mandate
The principle that a mandatary should present themselves before the electorate at the halfway point of their term to ratify or cancel their previously obtained position, assumes that the will of the majority might have erred and therefore requires an intermediary review. In parliamentary systems, this does not exist as the parliament itself holds the legal authority to dissolve the government. However, in presidentialism, it appears as an exceptional case resulting from a political or economic crisis that compels the ruler to seek popular consultation.
López Obrador’s Intentions in Mexico
In the case of Mexico, President López Obrador’s intention was not to broaden democracy through an intermediary vote. Instead, this exercise aims to allow a president to directly interfere in mid-term elections and thus consolidate political control concentrated in the executive figure.
Linking Revocation of Mandate with Mid-Term Elections
The aim is to synchronize the Revocation of Mandate consultation with mid-term elections, incorporating Claudia Sheinbaum into the electoral ballot as a participant in renewing the Chamber of Deputies. This is the final step to minimize political opposition in Mexico.
Exceeding Boundaries and Implications
While presidents in other democracies can campaign for other candidates and themselves, Mexico’s executive intervention surpasses this limit. It aims to signal the use of federal resources, thereby financing the mobilization of the entire electoral apparatus.
This renders it impossible for opposition to compete fairly. With the government controlling the INE, the Electoral Tribunal, and now federal resources without any limitations through funds designated for Revocation of Mandate, we would revert to an era of a single party and an absolute president.
The Flawed Argument for Cost Reduction
The stated intention to align federal elections with the Revocation of Mandate, purportedly to cut economic costs by conducting two electoral processes in one go, is unsustainable. Each process has a distinct objective: one aims to renew the lower house, while the other is a referendum on the presidential figure, making their simultaneous conduct incompatible.
An Aspiration Towards Absolutism
Essentially, this is an aspiration towards absolutism. By ensuring no loose ends that could open opportunities for electoral plurality and fair competition, López Obrador’s dream of an electoral authoritarianism is gradually becoming a reality, despite widespread social discontent that has yet to form an effective resistance.
