Abstract

SERRA, Gilles. A Critical Reading of the Electoral Reform in Mexico as a Result of the 2006 Election. Polít. gob [online]. 2009, vol.16, n.2, pp.411-427. ISSN 1665-2037.

Following the 2006 post-electoral crisis, important changes were made to the Constitution and several secondary laws in Mexico. The goal of this essay is to analyze four problems derived from this new legislation: 1) a weakened autonomy of the Federal Electoral Institute, 2) a scarcity of information in the political debate, 3) the hegemony of party elites, and 4) the uncertainty in case of contested elections. Based on a detailed reading of the new norms, this essay documents such problems and discusses their potential impact in Mexico's democratic process. We propose three new reforms: primary elections, runoff elections, and direct election of members of the electoral institute.

Keywords : electoral reform; IFE; TRIFE; Cofipe; party elites; internal elections.