National priorities are security and investment: now is not the time for electoral reform.

The Employers’ Federation of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX) maintains that the most appropriate electoral reform is one that originates from the citizenry, protects democratic principles, and strengthens institutions. Therefore, we believe the best course of action is to avoid pushing for changes that deepen polarization and generate confrontation among Mexicans, especially when the nation’s truly relevant task is addressing its pressing challenges.

In the current climate of internal and external economic uncertainty, combined with the urgent need to guarantee security, justice, and peace to create conditions for investment, we insist that debating an electoral reform is both risky and untimely.

This attempt to initiate a shift in institutional frameworks comes at a delicate moment marked by significant security challenges and violent events in various regions, the review of commitments with international trade partners, economic uncertainty and weaknesses in the Rule of Law. Mexico requires stability, institutional efficiency, and concrete results, not discussions that fuel division.

Furthermore, this approach could result in the breach of international commitments assumed by Mexico regarding democracy, political rights, and free elections. This would have direct consequences on the country’s standing in key negotiations, such as the USMCA, or during the renewal stages of the Mexico-European Union Global Agreement. The legitimacy of any reform depends not only on its legality but also on its origin, its process, and its social acceptance.

It is essential to note that since the 1990s, the Mexican electoral system has been built through broad, public, democratic, and inclusive agreements. These were driven by citizens, organized civil society, academia, and political forces through dialogue and consensus-building. The reforms that granted autonomy to electoral authorities and strengthened plurality were not concessions from the state but hard-won social achievements.

This process allowed Mexico to advance toward an electoral system that has provided political stability, peaceful transitions of power, legal certainty, and democratic governance. While the model is perfectible, it has proven its relevance as a cornerstone of national democratic development.

Today, we face a different context. For the first time in our recent history, an electoral reform proposal does not originate from citizen consensus. This introduces risks that must be analyzed with institutional responsibility and a long-term vision.

We are certain that electoral laws must respect five democratic pillars built by society and universally recognized:

• Autonomy of the authorities responsible for organizing elections, ensuring real independence, sufficient operational capacity, and a professional, reliable, and permanent structure.
• Legislative Plurality reflecting the country’s political and social diversity.
• Robust Oversight through effective fiscalization to guarantee equitable competitive conditions.
• Inclusion of Minorities by avoiding barriers that limit political participation and the emergence of new forces.
• Legal Certainty based on clear, stable, and predictable rules.

In the specific case of electoral reform, it must emerge as a result of citizen consensus, democratic dialogue, and respect for institutions.

Safeguarding the electoral system implies acting with institutional responsibility and prioritizing the urgent challenges currently affecting the country’s security, stability, and development.

COPARMEX reiterates its permanent willingness for respectful dialogue and the construction of agreements that strengthen democracy, always with responsibility and a long-term vision.