Mexico’s lower house rejects President Sheinbaum’s electoral reform

MEXICO CITY, March 11 (Reuters) – An electoral reform proposed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was rejected on Wednesday by lawmakers in the lower house of Congress who criticized the bill as a move by the ruling party to concentrate power.

The reform received 259 votes in favor and 234 against, with one abstention. Despite the majority, the bill fell short of the supermajority required for constitutional changes because Sheinbaum’s usual allies from the Green Party (PVEM) and the Labor Party (PT) withheld their support.

Sheinbaum introduced the initiative in late February, arguing it would strengthen democracy, increase citizen participation and cut electoral costs by a quarter. The proposal included a reduction in Senate seats and increased oversight of electoral bodies.

Pablo Gomez, head of the electoral reform commission, said in late February that Mexico’s electoral system costs reached $3.55 billion in 2024.

(Reporting by Raul Cortes, Diego Ore and Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon)