### The Risk of the Second Congress
Over the first three years of Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda’s tenure, the state legislature has been highly obedient, uncritically endorsing her administration’s initiatives. The overwhelming majority of the legislature, dominated by the Morena party, resembles more of an extension of the governor’s office rather than an autonomous legislative body. The legislators have failed to act as a counterbalance, instead submitting to both the governor and her cabinet.
This phenomenon isn’t new; previous administrations like those of Jaime Bonilla and Francisco Vega de Lamadrid also experienced unchallenged support from their legislatures, which eventually led to public backlash against these colluding powers. During Vega’s administration, internal conflicts within the PAN (National Action Party) resulted in the dissolution of the party’s cohesion, with key figures like Carlos Torres Torres and Andrés de la Rosa Anaya engaging in political infighting and manipulation.
Bonilla, the first Morena governor, also enjoyed the legislature’s unquestioning loyalty, which allowed for several contentious decisions — many of which were later overturned by the Supreme Court. He attempted to bind the state in dubious contracts, notably with Next Energy, reflecting a period of excessive political overreach.
As Ávila Olmeda embarks on her second term, the new legislature is even more aligned with her administration. The displayed unity ranges from incompetence and ignorance to sheer survival instincts among the legislators, who irrationally back the governor without any semblance of oversight. The governor publicly refers to the new Morena and ally legislators as her “bancada” (party members), underscoring the concerning lack of legislative independence.
While Marina may see this situation as advantageous, she overlooks the peril of not having any legislative counterweights. Such an imbalance deprives her administration of critical insights and alternative solutions that could stem from a more diversified legislative debate.
The current Morena legislators, much like their PAN predecessors, have degraded their parliamentary roles, weakening their own authority and responsibilities. Some, like Jaime Cantón, Michelle Tejeda, and Diego Arregui, display more interest in showcasing their support for the governor’s projects rather than contributing constructively. Others, like Jorge Ramos Hernández, appear to be maneuvering for power within the assembly.
A legislature that exhibits an unwavering alignment with Marina del Pilar risks undermining a government that initially had strong popular support but has since faced substantial political and security crises. The lack of effective legislative oversight could further erode the administration’s credibility and ability to govern effectively.
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### Author
Eduardo Villa – Journalist based in Mexicali since 2011, co-author of the book on investigative journalism at the local level.
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