Political Observer: Civic Observatory | Article

Jorge Alcocer V.

On August 30, the Alternative National Project Research Center (CEPNA) signed collaboration agreements with INE and TEPJF to facilitate access to and analysis of relevant public information generated by the electoral authorities. With these agreements, the activities of the Civil Observatory for 2023-2024 began; they do not provide for any financial support for observers or CEPNA.

Those of us who are part of the civilian observer group do so in a personal and honorable capacity. We express our gratitude to each specialist who agreed to take part. The names and details of those participating in this civic event can be found at www.cepna.com.mx.

The purpose of the Civil Observatory organized by CEPNA is to observe INE and TEPJF.

The aim is to promote the validity and observance of the principles that shape electoral integrity, understood as: “observance of legal, regulatory and operational conditions that guarantee the observance of constitutional principles in electoral matters, emphasizing the independence and impartiality of electoral, administrative and jurisdictional bodies, and observance by civil servants of the obligation of neutrality towards political parties and candidates”.

We will be watching the INE agreements and TEPJF rulings in an effort to create a context of demand for them, which is a solid basis for citizens’ trust in their actions during the electoral processes that begin on September 1.

“Context of requirements” means that electoral advisers and judges are overseen by citizens who are experts in electoral matters.

The complex context requires that INE and TEPJF be respected and valued in their decisions, in their arguments and in their voices, in order to verify their compliance with the constitutional, legal and regulatory rules that govern their activities.

Citizens’ trust in our electoral bodies is not a carte blanche.

Trust is a value that is built with and from citizens, and reinforced by seeing that in their decisions councilors and judges put the law and the constitutional principles that govern their actions first.

I use a beautiful phrase about perspective applied to the electoral realm: there are “facts that carry the future.”

On July 6, 1988, one such event occurred: the system shut down. “Not from the verb to fall, but from the verb to shut up,” as Diego Fernandez de Cevallos said that day at a meeting of the Federal Election Commission. The “fall of the system” was replaced by a radical transformation of the Mexican electoral system.

In 1990, IFE and TRIFE were born. A cycle of electoral reforms began, which did not end.

In 1990, another “future event” took place: at the initiative of Senator Silvia Hernandez, with the participation of CEPNA, we organized a seminar to analyze the experience of national and international assistance and election observation. José Woldenberg played a prominent role in this initiative.

For unforeseen reasons, the workshop had to be held in Caracas with the support of Parliamentarian for Global Action (UN) and former Swedish Ambassador Bengt Sewe-Söderberg, founder of what is now International IDEA.

In subsequent years, new events took place that predetermined the future.

In 1991, on the occasion of the first federal elections organized by the IFE, CEPNA contributed to the creation and fulfillment of the tasks of the first group of independent citizen observers.

In 1994, the number and tasks of election observers, as well as “foreign guests” who have the opportunity to observe and comment on our elections, were enshrined in law. It was this year that the UN, through UNDP, requested the presence of an Assistance Mission in Mexico. The pivotal player in this first experience, as well as those that have taken place in subsequent years, was Mr. Dong Nguyen, who is advising the Observatory on an electoral process that is only hours away.

Since 1994, election observation has been part of the Mexican electoral system. Every electoral process has left lessons about citizen participation and the contribution of foreign visitors. The most important lesson of 2024 is that observation must be carried out throughout the entire electoral process, from its inception to the moment the last TEPJF proposal is issued.

The tasks of the Citizens’ Observatory will focus on two national electoral bodies. Over time, we hope to include in it the electoral bodies of nine federal entities, in which the property of the local executive power will be renewed.
It will be a civic effort for citizens.

In embarking on the tasks of the Civic Observatory, we acknowledge the willingness and openness of INE Presidential Advisor Guadalupe Taddei Saval and TEPJF Presidential Magistrate Reyes Rodríguez Mondragón to offer us their institutional cooperation.

We are giving way to new developments that bring the future and which we hope will help ensure that elections are free, transparent, peaceful and civic.

We will be watching the INE and TEPJF to help citizens build their confidence in the two main institutions of the electoral system. We will also ensure that both the state authorities – from the president of Mexico to the president of the smallest municipality – and the political parties respect their autonomy and independence and abide by their resolutions.

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