Background and Key Players
The revocación de mandato consultation for Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz has exposed a rift between Morena and the PT, prompting concerns in Mexico City. Ricardo Monreal Ávila, leader of Morena’s legislative faction in the Chamber of Deputies, has pointed out that the PT essentially acted as an opposition party.
Consultation Details
According to the IEEPCO’s computation act, 935,000 votes were cast, representing 29.91% of the electoral registry comprising three million 130,405 citizens. Out of these:
- 550,274 people voted for Jara to remain in office
- 357,025 citizens voted for his mandate revocation due to loss of confidence
- 28,201 votes were registered as null
This means 58.82% of voters chose for Jara to stay, while 38.16% voted for his removal.
Vinculative Nature of the Consultation
The Ley de Revocación de Mandato for Oaxaca requires a minimum 40% participation for the citizens’ decision to be executed. Since only 29.91% participated, the consultation’s results are not vinculative.
Allegations of Simulation
Thirty-three Oaxaca-based civil organizations claimed the consultation was a simulation, as it was promoted by Jara supporters for “political self-promotion,” not to remove him from office.
Cost and Comparison
The consultation cost 186 million pesos, surpassing the 160 million pesos allocated to the Farmacias del Bienestar program in Oaxaca for 2026.
Process and Controversies
The IEEPCO reported no incidents or anomalies threatening the process. However, representatives from political parties denounced that the online computation and publication of results system crashed at least three times.
PT’s Role and Monreal’s Response
Benjamin Robles, the PT state leader in Oaxaca, became a prominent advocate for revoking Jara’s mandato due to loss of confidence. Post-consultation, Robles claimed the people expressed dissatisfaction with Jara’s performance.
Morena’s legislative faction leader, Ricardo Monreal Ávila, stated that the PT’s opposition-like behavior during the consultation raises concerns. He emphasized the need for reconciliation with PT allies in Oaxaca to avoid similar situations in future elections, which could jeopardize Morena’s voting majority.
Historical Context
Salomón Jara won the 2021 Oaxaca gubernatorial candidacy against PT’s Benjamin Robles, senator Susana Harp, and PVEM’s Raúl Bolaños Cué. Morena secured 49.93% of the votes, while PT received 5.33%, PVEM 2.17%, and PUP 2.82%.
Since then, Benjamin Robles has become a vocal critic of Jara’s government.
Elections and Alliances
In the 2024 elections, Morena, PT, and PVEM were separated in the Oaxaca senator election. Antonio Morales Toledo (Morena) won with 47.96% of the votes, while Laura Estrada Mauro (PVEM) secured the first minority seat with 12.79%. Benjamin Robles (PT) failed to enter the Senate, placing third with 11.61% of votes.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the revocación de mandato consultation? It’s a process allowing citizens to vote on whether to remove an elected official from office due to loss of confidence.
- Who are Morena and PT, and why is their relationship significant? Morena is a left-wing political party in Mexico, and PT (Party of the Democratic Center) is a center-left party. Their alliance in Oaxaca has been crucial for Morena’s electoral success.
- What were the consultation results? 29.91% of registered voters participated, with 58.82% voting for Jara to remain in office and 38.16% wanting his removal.
- Why is this consultation important for Morena and PT? The results expose tensions between the parties, which could impact future elections and their voting majority.
