Abstract

CARDENAS, Jaime. El proceso electoral de 2006 y las reformas electorales necesarias. Cuest. Const. [online]. 2007, n.16, pp.43-69. ISSN 1405-9193.

This paper discusses the salient events surrounding the 2006 Electoral Process in Mexico and some previous developments such as the integration of the current General Council of the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE). The author considers that the presidential election should have been annulled because it did not comply with the principles of constitutional freedom and authenticity, and argues that electoral authorities did not fulfill the democratic expectations of Mexican citizens. In view of the flaws of the electoral process, the author proposes reforms to the Mexican electoral framework and outlines a new profile for electoral civil servants. The author concludes by maintaining that the transition to democracy in Mexico has not ended, because changes in the rules of the political game have focused on electoral rather than institutional issues.

Keywords : elections; electoral law; electoral authorities; democratic transition; electoral reform.