Mexico's INE says parties not required to screen candidates for narco ties

Mexico's National Electoral Institute (INE) clarified that political parties have no legal obligation to prevent candidates with alleged links to organized crime from running. The institute's legal department responded to a request from the watchdog group Defensorxs, stating that imposing such requirements would add conditions that conflict with existing legislation. Parties may voluntarily adopt internal controls and diligence measures to protect democratic processes, but they are not mandated to assess candidates' integrity or honorability regarding criminal connections.

Activist Leonardo Zúñiga challenged the legal department's authority to answer the request before the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Power (TEPJF). The magistrates ruled that only the INE Council can respond when specific procedural criteria are met, which were not satisfied in this case.