Noroña blames INE for approving the candidacies of candidates linked to drug trafficking.

Just over a month before the election of judges and magistrates in Mexico, a new controversy shakes the process. Senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña lashed out at the National Electoral Institute (INE) for allowing candidacies of candidates linked to organized crime.

However, the president of the INE, Guadalupe Taddei, replied by distancing herself from responsibilities and pointing to the Senate.

Judges linked to drug trafficking on the ballot

The pro-government president of the Senate, Fernández Noroña, publicly admitted that there are candidates who have defended drug traffickers or have released criminals. Although he did not reveal names, he assured that there are documented cases of people who should not be part of the process.

Noroña was clear in stating that the INE should cancel these candidacies for representing a risk to justice and national security.

He assured that the majority of questionable profiles come from the Judiciary, although he also admitted that there were failures within the Legislative.

The INE washes its hands

Under pressure, Guadalupe Taddei replied that the INE has no direct responsibility in the selection of candidates.

She explained that this task was carried out by evaluation committees formed by the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Powers. According to her, the INE only received the final lists and organized the process as mandated by law.

Taddei emphasized that the evaluation of the candidates' probity and track record was a task prior to the drawing of the candidacies. Additionally, she clarified that, in case of challenges after the voting, it will be the Senate and the Electoral Tribunal who must solve them.

The process, however, leaves serious doubts about the transparency and legitimacy of the selected profiles.

A process tainted by opacity.

The accusations by Noroña and the defense of the INE reveal a concerning lack of institutional coordination. The dangerous permissiveness with profiles could put the rule of law at risk.

Some of the candidates have been accused of releasing criminals, being involved in forced disappearances, or having records of gender violence.

This election, driven by Morena to supposedly democratize the Judiciary, has become a opaque, improvised, and riddled with irregularities process.

The presence of candidates linked to organized crime demonstrates that the ruling party is more interested in political control than in justice.