Mexican president: Mexico has extra democracy than US

Mexico’s president says his nation is extra democratic than the US

ByThe Related Press

February 28, 2023, 1:45 PM

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s president stated Tuesday his nation is extra democratic than the US.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s testy feedback got here after U.S. officers took word of heated public debate in Mexico over López Obrador’s just lately accredited electoral reforms, which critics allege may weaken Mexico’s democracy. The reforms would lower spending for the nation’s electoral authorities.

López Obrador angrily rejected any U.S. remark, though U.S. State Division spokesman Ned Value was cautious to say in a press release Monday that “We respect Mexico’s sovereignty.”

The Mexican president responded “there’s extra democracy in Mexico than may exist in the US.”

“In the event that they need to have a debate on this problem, let’s do it,” López Obrador stated pugnaciously. “I’ve proof to show there’s extra liberty and democracy in our nation.”

The Mexican president is notoriously sensitive about criticism, whether or not it comes from human rights teams, non-governmental organizations, the press, or Mexican regulatory or oversight businesses.

Value stated in a press release that “In the present day, in Mexico, we see a fantastic debate on electoral reforms on the independence of electoral and judicial establishments that illustrates Mexico’s vibrant democracy.”

“We respect Mexico’s sovereignty. We consider {that a} well-resourced, unbiased electoral system and respect for judicial independence help wholesome democracy.”

On the root of the battle are plans by López Obrador, which have been accredited final week by Mexico’s Senate, to chop salaries and funding for native election places of work, and cut back coaching for residents who function and oversee polling stations. The adjustments would additionally scale back sanctions for candidates who fail to report marketing campaign spending.

López Obrador denies the reforms are a risk to democracy and says criticism is elitist. He argues that the funds can be higher spent on the poor.

Tens of hundreds of individuals demonstrated over the weekend in Mexico Metropolis’s predominant plaza, calling the cuts a risk to democracy.