Mexico's INE rejects proposal to vet candidates' criminal links

Mexico's National Electoral Institute (INE) said it lacks legal authority to investigate the criminal background or integrity of political candidates. Councilor Frida Dennise Gómez Puga emphasized that the institute's constitutional role is limited to organizing elections and guaranteeing legality, transparency and equity, not to act as a judge or investigator.

A federal reform initiative presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum on May 22 proposes creating a Commission of Verification of Integrity in Candidacies within the INE, composed of five electoral counselors with a rotating presidency. The commission would serve as a confidential link between political parties and security, intelligence and financial oversight bodies such as the Attorney General’s Office, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the National Intelligence Center, potentially handling more than 140,000 candidate records. The proposal remains under legal analysis, and officials stress the need for clear rules, procedures and timeframes before any operational rollout.