Morena goes for another cut to the INE with the principle of electoral “austerity”

The legislator explains that the coming weeks will be key for the electoral reform that the Chamber of Deputies intends to discuss, and although the PRI has affirmed that it will not approve anything that harms the INE and the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Power of the Federation (TEPJF), states that the inclusion of the word “austerity” will suffice to give more support to the intention to cut the budget and reduce the number of directors.

It even presumes that with this change they could proceed to cut back the powers of the Institute without the need for constitutional changes.

Mier Velazco anticipates that his bench and its allies, the Labor Party (PT) and the Green Party (PVEM), which add up to the simple majority necessary to endorse the 2023 Expenditure Budget, are going for a cut in INE spending – it would be the fifth since 2019– not only the result of the “administrative reengineering” that is sought to be given to that body.

Thus, it anticipates that it is proposed to eliminate, as one of the attributions of the INE, that of heading the national strategy of civic education, as well as the exercise of trusts such as the Fund to Address Labor Liabilities of the Institute, and insist on the extinction of the insurance of increased medical expenses and reduced earnings.

“You have to take away the privileges that are offensive to the working class, they are workers at the service of the State, such as a member of the National Guard, a teacher or a nurse, a doctor. However, in addition to having the right to social security through the ISSSTE, they have higher medical expenses as the deputies had before, they have their retirement fund”, he accuses.

“(It is required) a review, I think an administrative reengineering, because it grew in a disorderly way. It is not possible that an institute that is improving instead of reducing its costs will increase,” he argues.

See even possible pockets of resources to affect.

“There are several things, such as the responsibility indicated by the Constitution and the law that has to do with civic education. But after 30 years, all Mexicans know what it means to exercise the right to vote and be voted for”, he comments.

– Is it no longer necessary? – She asks him.
–That is no longer necessary, it can now be included in the textbooks, and people can participate. At that time, they took it away from the Ministry of Public Education with the argument that it could be biased because the colors of the PRI were the same colors as the flag, so impartiality and fairness in the competition were not guaranteed and that it would be better for the INE. Well, 27 years have passed since then and that represents 600 million pesos, for example, and just like that, there are many items to adjust.

–Including this constitutional principle of austerity in electoral matters, is coverage given to budget cuts to the INE?
-A budget adjustments yes, and along with it also reduce the number of directors.

– With that reform?
-Yes, with that and even so (without reform), we as the Chamber of Deputies have the power to approve the budget, it can do so.