### Primary Article: Tijuana Demands Prevention of 4T Overrepresentation in Congress
On August 11, 2024, Tijuana joined a nationwide call to prevent the overrepresentation of Morena and its allied parties in the Congress of the Union. The demonstration took place outside the offices of the National Electoral Institute (INE) in District 5, where around 50 citizens voiced their concerns over the coalition “Sigamos Haciendo Historia” potentially exceeding the 8% additional seats they secured in the June 2 federal deputy elections.
Protesters argued that this overrepresentation would give parties allied with Mexico’s Fourth Transformation (4T) a qualified majority in the Chamber of Deputies, allowing them to amend the Constitution without opposition. Joel Villavicencio, representative of the National Anti-AMLO Front, emphasized, “Article 54, sections 4 and 5, clearly states that no party can have more than 300 deputies. Importantly, no party or coalition can exceed 8% of the votes they secured in national elections.”
Villavicencio pointed out that the Morena coalition, including PT and Verde parties, won 54% of the vote, translating to a potential 62% with the additional 8%. However, they are allegedly looking to acquire up to 74-75%, which would enable them to freely amend the Constitution.
On July 17, the Secretary of the Interior, Luisa María Alcalde Luján, reported that if proportional representation seats won by the coalition were included, the ruling party would have 373 deputies. Alcalde Luján noted that since 2008, proportional representation seats have been allocated to individual parties, not coalitions, thus seemingly excluding coalitions from overrepresentation rules.
Villavicencio insisted, “There is jurisprudence that equates parties and coalitions, and they should not be allowed to have an overrepresentation.” He called on INE and the Federal Electoral Tribunal to “adhere to Article 54 and maintain the established terms to ensure checks and balances in the government, which emanates from the citizens.”
The primary concern is that a qualified majority for Morena and its allies would subjugate the legislative to the executive branch, expressed Villavicencio. He warned, “Mexico chose public servants, not a regime change, despite President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s stated intention for regime change, aligned with the ideals promoted by the Puebla Group and the Sao Paulo Forum.”
In Mexico City, the call to avoid overrepresentation was spearheaded by the National Civic Front. Former president of the now-defunct Federal Electoral Institute, Leonardo Valdés, reiterated that recent electoral reforms were designed to prevent any single party from unilaterally amending the Constitution, denouncing any use of coalition figures to circumvent this principle as a clear fraud against the Constitution.
### Secondary Article: Nationwide Protests Against Congressional Overrepresentation
In more than 50 cities across Mexico, citizens gathered on August 11, 2024, to protest against the potential overrepresentation of the Morena party and its allies in Congress. These coordinated protests were a grassroots effort to ensure that electoral laws designed to prevent any single party from unilaterally changing the Constitution are upheld.
In Monterrey, demonstrators gathered outside INE offices, echoing concerns similar to those voiced in Tijuana. “We are here to demand a fair representation in Congress, according to what the people voted for,” said Maria Gonzalez, a local activist.
Meanwhile, in Guadalajara, the mood was somber but determined. Crowds held signs reading, “Respect the Constitution!” and “No to Overrepresentation!” Javier Morales, a constitutional lawyer, addressed the crowd, saying, “What we are witnessing is an attempt to undermine our democratic institutions. We must remain vigilant.”
In Puebla, the protests took on a more festive atmosphere, with demonstrators using music and art to express their discontent. “We want to remind the government that creativity and joy are also forms of resistance,” remarked Lucia Martinez, a street artist.
The movement has garnered international attention, with observers from various democratic institutions around the world closely monitoring the situation. The consensus remains clear: Mexico must adhere to its laws to preserve the checks and balances vital for a functioning democracy.