(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Mexico say politicians stand to gain from a series of electoral reforms proposed by the government, according to a poll by Reforma. 57 per cent of respondents think politicians alone will benefit from the proposed changes, while 34 per cent say citizens will gain with them.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Mexico say politicians stand to gain from a series of electoral reforms proposed by the government, according to a poll by Reforma. 57 per cent of respondents think politicians alone will benefit from the proposed changes, while 34 per cent say citizens will gain with them.
Mexican voters chose their new president in July 2006. Official results placed Felipe Calderón of the National Action Party (PAN) as the winner with 36.68 per cent of all cast ballots. Calderón—a former energy secretary—took over as Mexico’s head of state in December.
Congress is currently studying a government-backed electoral reform bill that would allow members of the Chamber of Deputies—the lower house of Congress—to seek up to four consecutive, three-year terms in office. It would also introduce a second round for presidential elections.
In the survey, 37 per cent of respondents think the most important piece of the proposed bill is reducing the number of lawmakers, 12 per cent select increasing the threshold for political parties to keep their registry, and 11 per cent pick allowing the re-election of lawmakers and mayors.
On Dec. 31, Mexican interior secretary Fernando Gómez Mont urged all lawmakers to support the bill in Congress, saying, "Whoever says that this country does not need reform, well, is not telling the truth."
Polling Data
In your opinion, who would benefit more from the political reform proposed by the president?
|
Politicians |
57% |
|
Citizens |
34% |
|
Both equally |
5% |
|
Not sure |
4% |
Which is the most important topic in the political reform proposed by the president?
|
Reducing the number of lawmakers |
37% |
|
Increasing the threshold for political parties to keep their registry |
12% |
|
Allowing the re-election of lawmakers and mayors |
11% |
|
Allowing citizens to become candidates without the support of a party |
10% |
|
Establishing a run-off in the presidential election |
7% |
|
Other |
4% |
|
Not sure |
19% |
Source: Reforma
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 Mexican adults, conducted on Jan. 29, 2010. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.
