Creating a political party in Mexico is almost impossible. Whoever intends to do so must not only satisfy what the respective laws indicate, but also have several million pesos to invest in the complicated process.
Since 1990, federal legislators from all parties, now including those from MORENA, have done nothing to facilitate the creation of parties.
In August 1990, the Federal Code of Electoral Institutions and Procedures (COFIPE) entered into force, which in paragraph b of its Article 24 stipulated, among other things, that “In order for an organization to be registered as a national political party, it must (… ): b) Have at least 3,000 members in each of half of the single-member electoral districts; in no case, the total number of its affiliates in the country may be less than 65,000”.
In November 1996, Congress amended said subsection of Article 24 to read as follows: “Have 3,000 members in at least 10 states, or have 300 members, in at least 100 single-member electoral districts; in no case, the total number of its affiliates in the country may be less than 0.13% of the Federal Electoral Register that has been used in the ordinary federal election immediately prior to the presentation of the application in question”. That is, 30,000 militants.
However, in December 2003, subparagraph b was reformed again, establishing that a national party must “have 3,000 members in at least 20 states, or else have 300 members, in at least 200 single-member electoral districts, which must have a voting card with a photograph corresponding to said entity or district, as the case may be; under no circumstances, the total number of its affiliates in the country may be less than 0.26 percent of the Federal Electoral Register that has been used in the ordinary federal election immediately prior to the presentation of the application in question.” Again, at least 60,000 members or approximately 0.046% of the population. Also, with the difficulty of bringing them together in 20 states or 200 districts.
As a result of the political-electoral reform of 2014, COFIPE was abrogated and replaced by the general laws of Political Parties (LGPP) and Electoral Institutions and Procedures (LEGIPE). What was subsection b of Article 24 of the COFIPE became subsection b of Article 10 of the LGPP, only the term “affiliates” was changed to “members”.
It is evident that the LGPP seeks, as COFIPE did before, to hinder the right of citizens to create political parties.
Mexican law contrasts with those of many countries that are true democracies.
For example, in Latvia, the country that offers its citizens the most freedom to run for office and form political parties, a party is defined as “an organization established by at least 200 citizens”, representing 0.011% of the population. In Bulgaria only 50 are needed, 0.0007% In France there is no electoral law and in 2006 Emmanuel Macron founded his movement and, endorsed by the signatures of 500 officials, launched his candidacy for the presidency.
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