Eduardo Murillo
Newspaper La Jornada
Friday, January 6, 2023, p. eleven
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) invalidated the recent electoral reform of Coahuila that, among other things, increased the number of local deputies from 25 to 27, to give legislative representation to sectors with some situation of vulnerability.
These changes to the Constitution and the Electoral Code of Coahuila were made so that indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples and communities, as well as the disabled, would have guaranteed two seats in the local Congress.
However, the local party Unidad Democrática de Coahuila, the Partido del Trabajo, Morena and the National Human Rights Commission challenged these changes, considering that they were never put to consultation with the communities that are intended to be favored, as mandated by agreement 169. of the International Labor Organization.
It is also observed that it was omitted to generate a dialogue around the proposals that were raised. All these elements lead us to conclude that the local Congress did not carry out the consultations to which it was previously obliged to issue any of the contested regulations and, therefore, it is proposed to declare them invalid.
raised the rapporteur minister on the matter, Juan Luis González Alcántara Carrancá.
The decision was approved unanimously, and since in Coahuila there will be local elections on June 4, in order not to leave the process in a legal vacuum, the SCJN determined the revival, that is, that the electoral regulations prior to these return to force. reforms.
Once the electoral process is over, the Congress of Coahuila must hold a consultation among the indigenous, Afro-Mexican and disabled communities, so that they can freely express their opinion on the legal changes that are intended to favor them.