THE Mexico recently made the controversial decision to eliminate several independent monitoring agencies, notably the National Institute for Transparency, which is essential to guarantee the transparency and the protection of rights citizens. This decision, supported by the current presidency, is justified by a stated desire to reduce the corruption and waste in government. Nevertheless, many criteria and analysts evoke a real democratic backsliding, fearing that the elimination of these agencies would play into the hands of a larger centralization power in the hands of the president. By absorbing the functions of these agencies into other branches of government, the risk of political manipulation and a weakening of the mechanisms of control and regulation is becoming worrying.
The recent decision by the Mexican Senate to dissolve several independent monitoring agencies has sparked intense controversy. This movement, supported by the president and his supporters, is motivated by the idea of reducing corruption and simplify regulation. However, critics see this initiative as a real blow to the transparency and to the protection of rights citizens, fearing that this would lead to greater control government on bodies which played a key role in the vigilance of public practices.
A controversial reform justified by the fight against corruption
Proponents of reform argue that abolishing agencies, such as theNational Transparency Institute (INAI), will enable the State to better fight against corruption and reduce the public spending. According to them, these agencies were perceived as real bureaucratic *sausages*, wasting resources without really providing solutions to societal problems. The idea is to absorb the functions of these agencies into a centralized government framework, where the presidency would have more decision-making power.
A worrying transfer of power
One of the main reasons for the dissolution is that the responsibilities of these agencies will be transferred to other ministries, all of which report to the executive. This raises concerns about regulatory independence, as the president and his administration will now have direct control over functions that aim to ensure responsibility authorities. This situation could weaken the mechanisms of monitoring established in the past, which were supposed to protect the rights of citizens and ensure fairness in access to public information.
Critics alarmed by attacks on democracy
Critics of this reform, such asMexican Association for the Right to Information, evoke a “democratic retreat” in the face of these changes. In their declaration, they emphasize that the disappearance of these autonomous bodies threatens the foundations of transparency, so hard won by years of struggle for a more open and accountable government. They fear that this reform will lead to a return to more oppressive, where control of information becomes centralized under a less scrutinized regime.
A climate of distrust towards institutions
The reform is part of a broader context of growing distrust in institutions. For years, the corruption within the state apparatus has undermined citizens’ trust in the authorities. Thus, the promise of greater efficiency and better integration of government services rings hollow for many. For them, instead of strengthening the means of control, existing structures should be improved to guarantee their autonomous operation.
A worrying trend in the Mexican political landscape
This reform echoes other recent changes, including a judicial reform which attracted strong criticism. With the direct election of judges, the independence of the judiciary is undermined, raising fears of a politicization of institutions supposed to be impartial. These actions, taken by the ruling party, show a desire to centralize power and limit the independence of the various state organs, which is alarming for the democracy Mexican.
To follow these developments, several recent articles detail these changes, such as The Cross, The Press, and others analyze the current climate of tension in the country. The fight for transparency, THE human rights and the democracy in Mexico is more crucial than ever.
