Guadalupe Taddei Zavala, INE’s Presiding Councilor, Expresses Concern
Guadalupe Taddei Zavala, the presiding councilor of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE), acknowledged that the institute lacks sufficient resources to pay more than 970 workers who have requested early termination. The INE can only cover the termination of 461 out of these 970 employees, which is less than half of the cases.
Taddei Zavala explained that the budget for this voluntary retirement program for workers with over 10 years of service has increased from 100 to 350 million pesos. She also mentioned that various factors contribute to an individual’s decision to leave their position at the INE and opt for voluntary retirement.
In 2021, around 400 workers sought early termination, and this number rose to 500 in 2022. During that time, discussions about a potential electoral reform were ongoing, specifically regarding President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Plan A, B, C, and D.
Concerns Over Potential Investigations Against Council Members
Taddei Zavala also expressed concern over possible administrative sanctions against members of the General Council. The Senate Superior Electoral determined it lacked competence to analyze an impugnation against the administrative responsibility procedure initiated by the INE’s Internal Control Organ (OIC) targeting several council members who voted to suspend the 2021 mandate revocation consultation.
Taddei Zavala emphasized that any high-level interpretation or position taken by council members could subject them to investigations, which is why the General Council has defended its autonomy and independence.
Uncertainty Regarding Inclusion of Proposals in Electoral Reform
After the Mexican Council of Election Executives (CEEM) submitted a proposal for electoral reform to the INE for presentation to the Presidential Commission for Electoral Reform and the Legislative Body, Taddei Zavala acknowledged that there are no guarantees that these documents will be included in the eventual reform.
She pointed out that while the CEEM submitted proposals, there is no assurance that they will be heard and considered by the Presidential Commission or result in a reform that strengthens democracy. Taddei Zavala stated that this assurance comes from those leading the reform process, both in the commission and in Congress.
The CEEM’s proposal includes conducting entirely electronic elections by 2033, reducing costs, eliminating local party prerogatives for national parties, standardizing preliminary results systems, and implementing a unified national ballot model.
Additionally, their proposal covers fiscalization, single accounts, and real-time reporting of campaign income and expenses for judicial power elections, along with bank traceability and digital auditing.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the issue? The INE lacks resources to pay more than 970 workers who requested early termination, with only enough funds for 461 employees.
- Who is Guadalupe Taddei Zavala? She is the presiding councilor of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE).
- Why is Taddei Zavala concerned? She is worried about potential administrative sanctions against council members and the uncertainty of INE proposals being included in electoral reform.
- What are the CEEM’s proposals? The CEEM suggests entirely electronic elections by 2033, cost reduction, elimination of local party prerogatives for national parties, standardized preliminary results systems, unified national ballot models, fiscalization, single accounts, real-time campaign finance reporting, bank traceability, and digital auditing for judicial power elections.
