Introduction to the Revocación de Mandato
The revocación de mandato is a citizen participation mechanism promoted by Mexico’s former president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. It theoretically allows the public to request the early termination of a functionary’s term, especially from the executive branch, if there is a loss of confidence. However, it has so many “safeguards” that it’s nearly impossible for the revocation to proceed, turning it into a mere simulation.
Background on the Revocación de Mandato
On April 10, 2022, Mexico held its first revocación de mandato consultation, proposed by López Obrador himself. He announced during his presidential campaign that he would push for and submit to this mechanism based on the principle of the Fourth Transformation: “The people put, the people remove.”
Current Developments in Congress
Currently, the Morena Parliamentary Group in Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies is pushing for a constitutional reform to modify fractions VIII and IX of Article 35 of the Election Law on Revocación de Mandato. This change aims to have the mechanism coincide with the midterm elections in 2027.
Ongoing Debate and Criticism
The opposition has expressed disagreement with the initiative, calling it a strategy for Palacio Nacional to promote campaigns for 300 Congressional seats, 17 gubernatorial positions, and other offices up for grabs that year.
Support from the President
President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed support for the initiative, believing it would optimize public resources by advancing to 2027, a year before the Constitution’s stipulation. However, she emphasized the need for public debate rather than rushing approval.
Governor’s Stance and Requirements
Hidalgo’s Governor Julio Menchaca has shown willingness to submit to the revocación de mandato mechanism in 2026, making him potentially the first state executive to be subjected to public scrutiny. However, several prerequisites must be met beforehand.
- At least 236,529 citizen supports (signatures) are needed, equivalent to 10% of the state’s voter registry.
- Signatures must be collected from at least 43 out of 84 municipalities in Hidalgo, with a minimum of 3% from each local voter list.
- The petition period is from September 5 to October 5, 2025. Signatures must be submitted by December 5, 2025.
- If the required number of signatures is achieved, the Instituto Estatal Electoral de Hidalgo (IEEH) will announce if a consultation is warranted by January 5, 2026. The consultation would take place on April 26 of the following year.
Low Citizen Participation
With the deadline for collecting signatures approaching, there has been low citizen participation due to insufficient awareness of the mechanism and a lack of organization among proponents to cover the entire state.
Governor’s Position and Criticism
Despite the governor’s willingness, critics argue that his administration has not eradicated practices from the old tricolor regime as promised during his campaign. His government is criticized for operating with profiles from the PRI and failing to bring about genuine public life transformation in Hidalgo.
