State of Mexico launches gender‑parity working group for 2026‑27 elections

The Observatory of Women’s Political Participation in the State of Mexico (OPPMEM) will create a specific Working Group on Parity, Democratic Participation and Women’s Political Representation. The proposal was presented by Arlen Siu Jaime Merlos, who heads both OPPMEM and the State Electoral Tribunal, to strengthen the observatory’s institutional capacity and provide technical indicators, diagnostics and recommendations for the 2026‑27 local election cycle.

The State Electoral Tribunal (TEEM) will join OPPMEM in evaluating gender‑parity criteria for the 2027 elections. The observatory will analyze existing statistics, produce reports and share findings with the public and political parties. Although its recommendations are not binding, they aim to raise awareness and guide actions toward greater female representation. Recent data show women mayors rising from 20 in 2015 to 54 in 2024, and the 61st and 62nd legislatures achieving parity with 37 of 75 seats held by women. The 2024 election required parties to apply parity rules across candidate lists, and a constitutional amendment now mandates parity in municipal executive bodies.