Introduction
The ruling coalition has deemed the legislative process a cumbersome formality to be expedited without meaningful debate. They argue that, with their majority of votes, the opinions of minorities are irrelevant. For instance, individuals who value both freedom of expression and privacy rights express concern about potential surveillance laws limiting or nullifying these rights. However, the ruling coalition dismisses these fears as unfounded and silences opposition through their voting power, without engaging in debate.
Impact on Minority Voices
The current attempt to reform the electoral law alarms many, as the ruling coalition may eliminate proportional representation. This would ensure a crushing majority for those in power, further marginalizing opposition voices. Such a scenario echoes the early 1970s Congress, where dissenting voices were silenced due to an overwhelming majority.
Although some social advances have been made under these governments, such as the rights achieved by the LGBTQ+ community in Mexico City under PRD/Morena administrations, these achievements do not justify the erosion of public debate or the cancellation of institutional evaluation mechanisms. While social assistance programs like scholarships are crucial for immediate support, they fall short in ensuring better educational and healthcare opportunities.
Weakening Democratic Institutions
The democratic model envisioned during the transition, relying on autonomous bodies to oversee power exercise and ensure diverse chamber representation, has faded. The current trajectory leads to a model without checks and balances, granting the executive unchecked authority.
The sole oversight will be presidential elections every six years. This system is not more democratic than the intended model. If presidential elections were genuinely free, it could be considered more democratic than a non-voting system. However, with the current model’s construction, it’s challenging to believe that future elections will be genuinely free and competitive.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the ruling coalition’s stance on parliamentary debate? The ruling coalition views the legislative process as a formality to be expedited without meaningful debate, dismissing minority opinions due to their majority voting power.
- How does this affect minority voices? The ruling coalition silences opposition without debate, potentially marginalizing minority voices further. The attempt to reform the electoral law without proportional representation could ensure a crushing majority for those in power.
- What are the implications for democratic institutions? The model without checks and balances grants the executive unchecked authority, with presidential elections every six years serving as the sole oversight. This system may not be more democratic than intended, especially if future elections are not genuinely free and competitive.
