MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has announced that he will introduce legislation in Congress to reform the country's electoral system.
The proposed reforms reportedly include abolishing the autonomous National Electoral Institute, which organises elections, eliminating proportional representation in Congress, and cutting costs by up to 24 billion pesos (USD1.2 billion).
According to the President, the Constitutional Reform on Electoral Matters will establish the National Institute for Elections and Consultations and federalize elections by eliminating the regulatory agencies currently in charge of organising elections in each state. Lopez Obrador said, the measures will end "electoral fraud" and ensure "the complete implementation of democracy."
The number of parliamentary seats in the lower house will be decreased from 500 to 300, while the number of Senate seats will be reduced from 128 to 96, according to the proposal. Indirect proportional representation will be replaced by direct vote for the appointment of deputies, senators, and municipal councillors.
Lopez Obrador has led reforms in various sectors, notably energy, since taking office in December 2018.
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