What is the eternal life clause?
This was not an original part of the “Plan B” electoral reform proposed by President López Obrador; This was introduced expressly by the Labor Party (PT) and the Green Party (PVEM) at dawn on December 7 during the vote in the Chamber of Deputies, all without going through the commissions or ruling.
It is about the possibility that the parties that participate in an electoral contest in alianz can, by means of an agreement, agree on the voting percentages that will be recognized for them -always sufficient to preserve the record- and not those that they actually obtain at the polls .
“The Parties may nominate candidates under the figure of Common Candidacy. In this case, the logo or emblem of the Parties that decide to participate in this modality will appear in the same box of the electoral ballot. The Parties must enter into an agreement for the distribution of the votes cast”, was the wording of article 12 that generated controversy.
This clause had already been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) for violating the right of citizens to cast a free vote.
On December 12, when ruling on the minutes already approved by the deputies, the Senate commissions modified more than 70 articles that had been approved by the deputies and eliminated the “transfer of votes” contained in article 12 of the Legipe.
But when the ruling was discussed and submitted to a vote by the full Senate on December 14, the clause reappeared at the proposal of PVEM senator Israel Zamora. The majority of Morena and his allies supported its inclusion, with 58 votes in favor and 49 against all the opposition.
Thus the minute was returned to the Chamber of Deputies. But the insistence on benefiting the small parties generated a warning from President López Obrador, who on December 15 threatened to veto that clause.
Thus, on December 15, the deputies voted to remove it, and the PVEM accepted its elimination.
“We are going to withdraw the proposal, so that they no longer defame us,” said the leader of the green legislators, Carlos Puente.
