The National Electoral Institute (INE) clarified that, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the law, the federal government will not be able to disseminate propaganda from February 4 to April 10, the date on which the mandate revocation query to the President of the Republic.
He explained that according to article 33 of the Federal Law of Revocation of Mandateapproved by the Congress of the Union and published on September 13, 2021, during the time that includes the process of revocation of mandatefrom the issuance of the call and until the conclusion of the voting day, the dissemination in the media of all government propaganda of any order of government must be suspended.
This morning, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in his morning conference that he will ask the Judiciary to specify what the federal Executive may or may not report in the context of the electoral ban for the next mandate revocation consultation.
However, it is the INE the authority responsible for issue organization rules and realization of the revocation querysince the Electoral Court of the Judicial Power of the Federation only resolves legal controversies of the parties and candidates.
In that framework, the INE He said that the prohibition of broadcasting propaganda is applicable throughout the national territory, to the three levels of government (federal, state and municipal), as well as to any of its Powers (Executive, Legislative and Judicial).
He mentioned that the same norm also establishes that no other natural or legal person, either on their own behalf or on behalf of third parties, may hire radio and television propaganda aimed at influencing the opinion of citizens on the revocation of the mandate.
“Although the Federal Law for Revocation of Mandate establishes that political parties may promote citizen participation in this process, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation has declared said determination unconstitutional, considering that this is an exclusive task of the National Institute Electoral”, detailed the INE.
He added that according to this normative base, the INE Complaints and Reports Commission could know about any irregularity to dictate, where appropriate, the corresponding precautionary measures, and the Specialized Regional Chamber of the Electoral Court of the Judicial Power of the Federation will be the instance that resolves the merits of the complaints that are presented and determines the sanctions. corresponding.
President López Obrador did not present videos on Monday on progress in infrastructure works, and admitted that everything his government is doing at this time can be considered propaganda. He considered that the rules issued are very general.
“That’s why we don’t touch anything on the subject, although it’s complicated, that’s why we want to know, to stick with it. Even when it comes to works that are being done for the benefit of all, that have nothing to do with the electoral, in any case, we want the judicial authorities to clarify what we can and cannot report. We are going to try to be very clear, ”he said.
López Obrador said that the Legal Department of the Presidency, together with the Ministry of the Interior (Segob), will request clarification, and will include what is related to their work tours and the upcoming inauguration of the “General Felipe Ángeles” International Airport. The president said that if it is prohibited, on March 21 he will not issue a message on the occasion of the inauguration of said airport.
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