### INAI Considers Reforms to Eliminate Autonomous Bodies a Setback
The National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Data Protection (INAI) has voiced strong objections to a proposed reform that seeks to dismantle autonomous bodies in Mexico. The reform, which was approved by the Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, aims to dissolve several key institutions including the INAI. The institute has called on legislators to engage in dialogue and carefully consider the broader implications of this reform.
Through their social media account on X (formerly Twitter), INAI described the approval of this reform as a significant backward step for the country, potentially impairing the full exercise of human rights.
“We express our deep concern and urgently call on legislators and society to discuss this proposal that could affect the quality of public life and citizen trust in institutions. This reform is a setback that will severely impact the full exercise of human rights in our country. INAI is not just an institution; it’s a cornerstone for building a solid and transparent democracy,” INAI posted.
The institute also emphasized the importance of initiating a constructive dialogue and holding open parliamentary sessions to discuss the significance of preserving the autonomous bodies slated for elimination.
The reform, proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and supported by President-elect Claudia Sheimbaum, passed on Friday with 22 votes in favor from deputies of Morena and its allies, and 17 votes against. The next legislative body will decide whether to finalize its approval.
The justification for this reform centers around budgetary savings intended to prioritize social spending, with the argument that an honest government negates the need for these autonomous bodies. The entities targeted for dissolution include the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece), the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Data Protection (INAI), the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Coneval), and the energy regulatory bodies such as the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) and the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH), along with the National Commission for the Continuous Improvement of Education (MEJOREDU).
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### Additional Updates on the Reform to Eliminate Autonomous Bodies
In light of the current controversy, various stakeholders and experts have weighed in on the reform’s potential impact on Mexico’s democratic framework and its citizens’ rights. According to several opinion pieces and analysis articles, the dissolution of these bodies could significantly weaken oversight and transparency mechanisms within the government, thereby increasing the risk of corruption and inefficiency.
Prominent human rights organizations have expressed their alarm over the implications of this reform. They argue that dismantling these oversight bodies would undermine accountability and the ability of citizens to access crucial information about government operations and spending.
Moreover, political analysts have highlighted that the proposed budgetary savings might be insignificant compared to the potential long-term costs associated with reduced oversight and increased governmental arbitrariness. They have emphasized the need for retaining these bodies to ensure checks and balances in the governmental system.
The debate continues as various social sectors, including academia and civil society organizations, mobilize to raise awareness and oppose the reform. Public forums and discussions are being organized nationwide, aiming to scrutinize the rationale and implications of dismantling these autonomous bodies and to propose alternative solutions for achieving fiscal prudence without compromising democratic values and human rights.
As the legislative process advances, the next steps for the proposed reform remain a focal point for political discourse and public concern in Mexico.