Exactly. Bravo Mexico for leading by example.

Government should be elected by the people for the people and of the representative people.

Compare this to the so called “democratic systems” around the world where governments are bought and paid for by the highest bidder in order to serve their agenda.

Exactly!

I agree there are far too many guns in the <USA and if the cartels can get drugs into the USA they can get guns out. Furthermore, there is a huge drug consumption problem in the US. That must be addressed. But it will take decades. Meanwhile, already the cartels have expanded into agriculture, fishing, oil, and have been in the extortion and murder business for many years.

Which of the two countries (US, Mexico) do you consider to be freer? Serious question.

“Our adversaries say there is authoritarianism but how [can there be] if it is the people who decide? Democracy is government of the people by the people for the people.”

“Totalitarianism does not emerge abruptly. It is built on gradual changes that concentrate power in a few hands. In Mexico, the process of centralization and destruction of checks and balances threatens democracy and creates the ideal conditions for the establishment of a totalitarian regime. This phenomenon should not be ignored. Institutional weakening not only affects the present but also compromises future generations.”

Having elections does not mean there is a democracy. Dictatorships always have elections. The USA is a good example of elections which are bought by billionaires. The electoral college in the USA does not seek democracy, it has nothing to do with it. How many of the people(both left and right) are represented in the government , in each district. Many comments mention balance of power as necessary for a democracy. Elected judges without “superior qualifications to run” and backed by parties leads to corruption. An essential part of democracy is term limits. A good appeals system in the judiciary are necessary. The more independent from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, an electoral commission, and the Dept of Justice is from the governing bodies is essential. Democracy is one person one vote, Neither is a majority vote democracy where one group lords it over winning by 52-48%. A sign of a democracy is how well the 48% are represented after an election.

Agenda | Opinion
One more step towards authoritarianism in Mexico
The erosion of autonomous bodies represents a wake-up call for democracy and freedom.
By: Julio Castillo Lopez
Dec 16, 2024

Original article in Spanish. Translation performed by artificial intelligence.

The consolidation of a totalitarian regime is defined by absolute control of power, the elimination of checks and balances, and the suppression of dissenting voices. In Mexico, the recent elimination of autonomous bodies and democratic mechanisms, which function as checks and balances, marks a worrying setback in terms of governance and the rule of law. This phenomenon not only threatens democratic freedoms . It also undermines trust in institutions , creating fertile ground for totalitarianism.

Autonomous bodies emerged little by little in a process of gradual democratization in Mexico. Perhaps the most obvious example is the National Electoral Institute (INE) created in 2014. Before, elections were organized by a commission from the Ministry of the Interior. But it was absurd that the government itself was the organizer and, at the same time, competed in them.

With a lot of work by the opposition and some democratic will from those in power, this function was removed from the government. Transparency and its institutions were a conquest of the first democratic government of Mexico in 2000, of Vicente Fox. The National Commission of Human Rights was also a conquest of the opposition in 1990, after Baja California was recognized as the first state of the Republic won by the opposition. Each institution had its history and its reason for being.

In Mexico, institutions such as the INE, the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Protection of Personal Data (INAI), and economic regulators have for years guaranteed impartiality and transparency in government decision-making . Even more so in decision-making in which the government is directly interested. However, the centralization of power in the Executive has resulted in a progressive decrease in its autonomy . This weakening is not accidental; it responds to a pattern of disjointed or subordinate bodies.

[Read also: Mexico: Civil society in the face of authoritarian populism

The case of the INE is paradigmatic because it is in charge of organizing the elections. The electoral reform prior to the elections reduced its operational and budgetary capacity. In addition, it called into question its competence to guarantee free and fair elections. It was not eliminated. But by weakening this institution, the door is opened for the Executive to exercise more direct control over the electoral processes . The possibility of alternation was reduced and the permanence of the party in power was strengthened.

What was removed?
The battle to remove the checks and balances did not begin with the reform that eliminated autonomous bodies. The National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) was the first institution to be colonized, when, against the law, Rosario Piedra was put in charge of the body, which is aligned with the government of the president at the time, Andrés Manuel López Obrador . Then came the reform that weakened the INE, also led by someone loyal to the government of the ruling Morena party . Recently, through legislative reform, the Judiciary was dismantled . Seven institutions have been closed in this way.

The Federal Economic Competition Commission , in charge of preventing the formation of monopolies, will result in fewer options for products and services, and higher prices.
The Federal Institute of Telecommunications , in charge of regulating the matter and granting radio spectrum, could also result in fewer options and higher prices, as well as the loss of neutrality and freedom of expression.
The National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy, in charge of measuring poverty in its different dimensions. The closure of this institution will result in the manipulation of official data and the loss of reliable indicators.
The National Hydrocarbons Commission , designed to ensure the maximization of the value of hydrocarbons, allowed for orderly and convenient work of state-owned companies, which are bankrupt.
The Energy Regulatory Commission , which regulates the energy market in which the State is the largest competitor, could limit competition in addition to affecting tariffs.
The National System for Continuous Improvement of Education , an institution that has not been autonomous for five years. The educational reform eliminated the National Institute for Educational Evaluation and also the possibility of knowing the educational level. To replace it, they opened this institution, so useless that they have already closed it.
The National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Protection of Personal Data (and its 32 local institutes). This must be the most aggressive change to consolidate a totalitarian power. Now it will no longer be possible to demand accountability, information and results from the government . Most of the corruption scandals that have been known are achieved by obtaining information from this institute. Now it will be the government itself that defines what data to share and what data to reserve.

Road to totalitarianism
Totalitarianism does not emerge abruptly. It is built on gradual changes that concentrate power in a few hands. In Mexico, the process of centralization and destruction of checks and balances threatens democracy and creates the ideal conditions for the establishment of a totalitarian regime. This phenomenon should not be ignored. Institutional weakening not only affects the present, but also compromises future generations.

The erosion of autonomous bodies represents a wake-up call for all those who value democracy and freedom. This is not a partisan struggle, but rather a defense of the fundamental principles that sustain a just and equitable society .

It is essential that civil society , political actors and international organizations pay attention to this process. The defense of autonomous bodies and checks and balances is not only a fight for democracy, but for respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law. Strengthening institutions, promoting dialogue and citizen oversight are essential to halt this advance towards totalitarianism and preserve the nation’s democratic legacy.

Julio Castillo Lopez
Graduate in Philosophy and Master in Communication. General Director of the Rafael Preciado Hernández Foundation of Mexico.

I wholeheartedly agree. Mexico may make some mistakes but AMLO’s transparency and his commitment to the education of the Mexican people was tireless. La Presidenta is no less committed. I live in a tiny pueblito outside a moderately large town. The mañaneras have become part of our daily life as one can hear them playing on speakers from most of our businesses. I only wish the population in my home country paid such close attention. Carol Hopkins

I agree as well. What an exciting time to live in a country that treats all its people equally. This is why I moved to Mexico. I just hope that this very important news source can Stay objective and void the pressure from wealthy American donors. So far so good.