Mexico's Morena Party Gets 73% of Congress Seats with 60% Votes

MEXICO CITY — In a contentious decision, Mexico’s electoral institute has awarded the governing Morena party and its allies approximately 73% of the seats in the lower house of Congress, despite the coalition securing less than 60% of the votes in the June 2 elections. This ruling, which is subject to legal challenge, would enable the coalition to achieve a two-thirds majority in the Chamber of Deputies, facilitating potential constitutional amendments. If upheld, Morena and its allies would control around 364 of the 500 seats. The ruling has sparked significant debate regarding the proportional representation law, which was intended to ensure smaller parties receive seats based on their national vote share. Critics argue that Morena circumvented this law by "lending" successful candidates to allied smaller parties, thereby manipulating the system to gain a majority. While the coalition is unlikely to secure a two-thirds majority in the Senate, it may still obtain the necessary votes from smaller parties to push through constitutional changes. The proposed changes have drawn sharp criticism from various sectors, including investors and financial institutions. Morgan Stanley recently downgraded its investment outlook for Mexico, citing increased risks, while Citibanamex warned that the changes could threaten the foundations of liberal democracy. U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar echoed these concerns, stating that the proposals pose a significant risk to Mexico’s democratic integrity and its historical commercial ties with the United States. As the political landscape shifts, the federal courts are currently facing disruptions due to a strike by court employees protesting the judicial proposal. With President López Obrador set to leave office on September 30, incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to continue his policies, further intensifying the ongoing debate over the future of Mexico's democracy.