### Ex-Councilors and Magistrates Urge INE and TEPJF to Prevent Overrepresentation of “4T”
August 15, 2024 — A group of twenty former councilors from the National Electoral Institute (INE) and the now-defunct Federal Electoral Institute (IFE), including their four ex-presidents, have issued a formal request. In their statement, they urge the current members of the INE and the magistrates of the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) to take steps to avoid the overrepresentation of the ruling party Morena and its allied parties, the Green Ecologist Party (PVEM) and the Labor Party (PT), in the Chamber of Deputies Congress of the Union for the upcoming legislature set to begin on September 1, 2024.
Prominent signatories of this appeal include Lorenzo Córdova Vianello, who served as INE’s president from April 3, 2014, to April 3, 2023, and Luis Carlos Ugalde Ramírez, the last president of the defunct IFE from October 31, 2003, to December 14, 2007. Others include Leonardo Antonio Valdés Zurita, and José Woldenberg Karakowsky, who also held significant roles at IFE.
Additionally, the statement received support from seven former magistrates of the Upper Chamber of the TEPJF. The document highlights the critical nature of the upcoming decision by the INE General Council regarding the formula for allocating proportional representation deputies for the 2024-2027 period, a decision that may also be reviewed by the Upper Chamber of the TEPJF.
The former councilors emphasize that this decision goes beyond routine mathematical formulas. It addresses the specific influence that political parties and coalitions will have in the Chamber of Deputies. They stress the importance of ensuring a balanced representation of votes and seats to uphold the constitutional limits on overrepresentation that have been established over decades.
“We call on you to fully consider and uphold the principles of proportional representation, ensuring that the Chamber of Deputies reflects the nation’s political plurality,” the ex-councilors stated.
Concluding their appeal, they express concerns that a narrow interpretation of a specific fraction of Article 54 of the Constitution could lead to a distorted representation. They urge the current INE council and magistrates to ensure that the citizen support received on June 2 is accurately reflected in the representation, maintaining the constitutional limits on overrepresentation established in 1996.
Other notable signatories include former councilors Jacqueline Peschard Mariscal, Maurice Merino Huerta, and Gastón Luken Garza, among several others, as well as former magistrates Leonel Castillo González, José Fernando Ojesto Martínez Porcayo, and Mauro Miguel Reyes Zapata.
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### Related Article: Mexico’s Electoral Landscape Faces Uncertainty Amid Proposed Reforms
#### **Mexico City — August 16, 2024**
In light of the recent appeal by former INE and IFE councilors and magistrates, Mexico’s electoral landscape remains in a state of flux. Amidst ongoing debates about electoral reforms proposed by the current administration to alter the way deputies are allocated, concerns of potential overrepresentation are at the forefront.
Political analysts have been vocal about the possible impacts of these reforms, suggesting they could significantly alter the balance of power in the Chamber of Deputies. Some fear that such changes could undermine the democratic principles that ensure a proportional representation of political forces.
Meanwhile, various political parties, excluding the ruling coalition, have expressed their apprehensions. They argue that these reforms could pave the way for a single-party dominance, diminishing the voice of minority parties and affecting the legitimacy of the legislative process.
As the INE prepares to make its final decision on the allocation formula for the next legislative term, the political spotlight is firmly on the electoral body’s ability to navigate these complex issues. The challenge lies in maintaining a democratic equilibrium while addressing the evolving political landscape in one of the largest democracies in Latin America.
The nation now waits to see how the INE and the TEPJF will respond to this pivotal moment in Mexico’s democratic journey, with the overarching hope that the decisions made will uphold and strengthen the country’s commitment to fair and representative governance.