Senate approves anti-nepotism reform; Morena and Verde postpone its entry into force until 2030

MEXICO CITY.- The Senate approved the constitutional reform that prohibits consecutive reelection and nepotism in public offices, promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum.

However, legislators aligned with the so-called Fourth Transformation postponed its entry into force until 2030 , so the ban will not apply in 2027, as stipulated in the original proposal.

The measure was strongly criticized by opposition senators, who said it was taken to benefit ruling party figures such as Senator Félix Salgado Macedonio in the 2027 local elections, who hopes to succeed his daughter Evelyn Salgado, governor of Guerrero.

They point out that they also seek to benefit other families or dynasties such as that of Saúl Monreal and the governor of San Luis Potosí , Ricardo Gallardo , of the Green Party.

During the session, the leader of the parliamentary majority, from Morena, Adán Augusto López , and from his ally, the Green Ecologist Party, Manuel Velasco , promoted postponing the entry into force of nepotism and reelection to 2030 instead of 2027.

The reform, which seeks to prevent direct relatives from succeeding elected officials and eliminate the possibility of immediate re-election, was approved unanimously with 127 votes in favor.

However, the amendment to delay its implementation received 97 votes in favor and 26 against, reflecting discontent among the parties.

The reform will now be sent to the Chamber of Deputies for analysis and eventual approval, something that is not expected to face obstacles given the large majority of the government.

If approved, the new constitutional provisions would come into effect for federal and local electoral processes in 2030 , thus seeking to limit nepotism and re-election practices in Mexican politics.

This initiative arises in a context where various families have maintained political control in different municipalities and states of Mexico for decades, transmitting public positions between spouses, parents, children and siblings, regardless of the political party to which they belong.

Claudia Sheinbaum has stated that the reform seeks to combat “electoral nepotism” and promote greater equity in the country’s democratic processes.

After Manuel Velasco and Adán Augusto López announced their reservations to modify the second transitory article, so that electoral nepotism would be prohibited from 2030 and not from 2027, protests from the opposition arose.

Gina Campuzano, a senator from the PAN, and Saúl Monreal Ávila, from Morena, exchanged accusations during the debate.

The PAN member criticized Morena and its allies for trying to postpone its entry into force until 2030 to benefit figures from the 4T who seek to maintain the power of their families, such as those of Félix Salgado Macedonio, Saúl Monreal and Ricardo Gallardo, from its ally PT, among others.

“Morena legislates to protect friends, compadres , allies like Manuel Velasco, so that in San Luis the Green Party continues to have its hold on power.”

“Like the Monreals, who do not want to let go of Zacatecas and who literally feel like the owners of Zacatecas,” he continued.

“Another who feels like he owns a state and is from Guerrero is Salgado Macedonio , who wants to be governor when his daughter Evelyn Salgado stops being governor. This is truly a simulation.”

Gina Campuzano focused her criticism on “the Monreals in Zacatecas, of the 14 siblings, 10 have held public office.”

“David Monreal is the governor of Zacatecas, his brother Ricardo Monreal is the coordinator of the Morena party in San Lázaro. And Saúl Monreal is a senator,” he said.

In response, Senator Monreal Ávila rejected the accusations of the PAN member and argued that unlike her, he has won his public positions by popular vote.

"I am the one who has obtained the most votes in the history of Zacatecas. I do not depend on my party, but on the support of the people," he stressed.