Abstract

LAGUNES LOPEZ, Oscar Nicasio  and  ARELLANES JIMENEZ, Paulino Ernesto. Independent Candidacies in the Elections of 2015 in Mexico. Legal Limits, Electoral Successes and Citizen Participation. Tla-melaua [online]. 2016, vol.10, n.40, pp.60-86. ISSN 2594-0716.

This article analyzes the main normative and factual inequalities that independent candidacies faced in financing and access to the media during the 2014-2015 electoral process in Mexico. In addition, their development during this process is described.

For the first time in the history of our country, six independent candidates won elections: one governorship, three mayors and two council members.

At the federal level, the independents positioned themselves as the third political force in the 20 electoral districts where they participated.

With the exception of Jaime Rodriguez “Bronco”, in Nuevo León, independent candidates did not increase the percentage of citizen participation if this percentage is compared to that of the immediate interior election.

Excluding José Kumamoto in Zapopan, Jalisco, and Cesar A. Valdés in Garcia, Nuevo Leon, the five independent candidates served in political parties, which makes their independence questionable.

Keywords : Independent Candidates; Electoral Successes; Electoral Inequality; Citizen Participation; 2015 Elections.