# Progress in San Lázaro: Approval for the Dissolution of Key Autonomous Agencies
On August 23, 2024, the Constitutional Points Commission of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved, in general, an initiative proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. This initiative calls for the dissolution of seven autonomous constitutional bodies, which will now be reviewed by the new legislature starting on September 1 of the same year.
The affected bodies include the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Protection of Personal Data (INAI); the Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE); the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT); the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH); the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE); the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL); and the National Commission for the Continuous Improvement of Education (MEJORADU).
The President submitted the initiative on February 5, 2024, as part of a package of 20 reforms. According to the proposal, these autonomous bodies had received a combined total of over 32.3 billion pesos since their inception. The initiative argues that this sum could fund five million bi-monthly pensions for senior citizens.
Under the principles of austere governance, the initiative seeks to integrate the functions of these autonomous bodies into existing federal administrative institutions. The savings generated from these dissolutions are intended to bolster the Pension Fund for Seniors.
Specifically, the Federal Telecommunications Institute’s (IFT) responsibilities would shift to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communication, and Transport (SICT). The Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) would be replaced by the Ministry of Economy (SE) to oversee market competition. Additionally, amendments to Article 28 of the Constitution aim to dissolve regulatory bodies in the energy sector, transferring their responsibilities to the Ministry of Energy (SENER).
Moreover, the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Protection of Personal Data (INAI) would see its functions spread across the Ministry of Public Administration (SFP), the Federal Judiciary’s control bodies, and Congress’s regulatory agencies. The plan extends these changes to a state level.
Additionally, the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL) would be absorbed by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), which will now handle poverty measurement and program evaluations.
### Additional Article: Concerns Over the Dissolution of Autonomous Agencies
Criticism has surrounded the move to dissolve these key agencies. Opponents argue that this centralization of power could undermine accountability and transparency in sectors crucial to economic stability and social development. Scholars and stakeholders from various industries have expressed concerns that eliminating independent bodies like the IFT and COFECE could stifle competition and innovation, giving rise to monopolistic practices. For sectors like telecommunications and energy, which play pivotal roles in the country’s infrastructure, the absence of regulatory oversight raises red flags for both investors and consumers.
For example, telecommunications experts worry that without the IFT, small and emerging companies could face insurmountable challenges against larger, more established players. Similarly, the energy sector’s regulatory shift to the Ministry of Energy could result in political influences overshadowing scientific and economic considerations, potentially destabilizing the sector.
Those who advocate for transparency have also spotlighted the impending loss of the INAI. They argue that shifting its duties to various ministries could create bureaucratic silos and weaken the enforcement of transparency laws, thus impairing the public’s right to information.
On the other hand, the government insists that these moves will streamline operations, reduce overhead costs, and ensure more direct control over critical national resources. Proponents argue that fewer layers of bureaucracy could accelerate decision-making processes, benefiting economic and social programs.
As the initiative awaits the review of the newly inaugurated legislature, all eyes are on how this consolidation will impact Mexico’s administrative landscape and public governance.