Background on the Institution and Its Relevance
The Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE) is Mexico’s autonomous electoral body responsible for organizing and supervising elections at the federal level. Its mission is to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections, which are essential for a healthy democracy. The Comisión de Quejas y Denuncias (Complaints and Allegations Commission) within INE plays a crucial role in identifying and addressing electoral irregularities.
The Issue: Paid Advertising on Social Media for Judicial Candidates
The Comisión de Quejas y Denuncias detected paid advertisements on social media platforms, specifically Facebook, promoting certain judicial candidates. This practice is prohibited by law, as it can create an unfair advantage in the election process.
Case Details
Two specific cases were identified:
- “Justicia sin Barreras”: This advertisement supported Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, a candidate for a position in the Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN). Although the profile has since been deleted, it was deemed that no further action was necessary as the event had already occurred.
- “Amigos de toro Burgos con la Ministra”: This advertisement supported Ingrid de los Ángeles Tapia Gutiérrez, another candidate for a position in the SCJN. The Comisión determined that cautelary measures were warranted, as there was evidence of a pattern of digital media time purchases in support of the candidate, which violates electoral norms.
Actions Taken by INE
INE ordered Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook’s parent company) to remove all advertisements linked to the judicial candidate campaigns from their platform.
Next Steps: Referral to the Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación (TEPJF)
The Comisión announced that both cases, which involve the misuse of public and private resources, will be forwarded to the Sala Superior del Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación (TEPJF) for further analysis. TEPJF will examine the matter as it pertains to the core issue.
“We are not initiating investigations but rather establishing a precedent or criterion to ensure that if authorities identify potential irregularities within the context of a complaint, even if the evidence is general and incomplete, we must take action accordingly,” stated the Comisión.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the role of INE? INE is Mexico’s autonomous electoral body responsible for organizing and supervising federal elections to ensure they are free, fair, and transparent.
- What is the issue detected by INE? INE found paid advertisements on social media platforms, specifically Facebook, promoting certain judicial candidates. This practice is prohibited by law.
- What actions were taken against the violating parties? INE ordered Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook’s parent company) to remove all advertisements linked to the judicial candidate campaigns from their platform.
- What will happen next? Both cases will be referred to the Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación (TEPJF) for further analysis and decision-making.
