The political framework of Mexico

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Andrés Manuel López Obrador (since 1 December 2018) - MORENA
There is no de facto vice president in Mexico. In case the President is unable to perform his duties, Congress names a Substitute or Interim President. Until the nomination, the Secretary of the Interior is the one who assumes executive powers provisionally.

Next Election Dates

Presidential: July 2024
Senate: July 2024
Chamber of Deputies: July 2024

Current Political Context

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador broke a two-party hegemony that had lasted for decades when he took office in December 2018, capitalising on social discontent. López Obrador’s government declared economic reforms as its priority, including reforms of the legislation in the energy, financial, fiscal, and telecommunications sectors; along with an overall objective of a more equitable income distribution. More recently, however, the Mexican president has been criticised for not implementing a stimulus programme large enough to jump-start economic recovery and growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the president remained broadly popular in Mexico, mainly due to his pledges to reduce inequality. Moreover, in June 2021, the country held midterm elections, where the ruling Morena party and its allies failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority in the Lower House to pass constitutional changes. Nevertheless, a simple majority allows the government to keep control of issues such as the budgetary process. Still, the election results strengthened Morena's coalition ahead of the 2024 presidential election, as the party won 11 out of the 15 governorships that were at stake. In November 2022, Mexico’s Congress rejected a controversial electoral reform backed by the president, which triggered massive protests by the Obrador's supporters. However, after the initial rejection his proposal, Obrador reverted to a package of laws which required only a simple majority to pass - instead of a two-thirds majority - leading to the approval of his reform in December 2022.

Main Political Parties

Mexico has a multi-party system. Under the transition to democratic pluralism, the centre of political power has shifted away from the executive and towards the legislative branch and local governments. The largest political parties in the country are:

- National Action Party (PAN): centre-right to right wing, liberal conservative, Christian democratic party.
- Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI): centre to centre-left, oldest political party in the country, constitutionalist, technocratic, social conservative, big tent party.
- National Regeneration Movement (MORENA): centre-left to left wing, anti-neoliberalism, left-wing nationalism, populism.
- Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVE): centre-right, environmentalist, conservative.
- Labour Party (PT): left-wing, social democratic, labourist, left-wing nationalist.
- Citizens' Movement (MC): centre-left, social democratic, progressist.
- Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD): centre-left to left wing, social democratic party.

Executive Power

As established by the Constitution, the Executive power is headed by the President of the United Mexican States. The President is both Head of State and of Government, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He or she is elected by popular vote for a six year term and cannot be reelected. The President appoints the Cabinet.

Legislative Power

The Mexican legislative power is in the hands of the Congress of the Union, which is divided in two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. The Chamber of Deputies has 500 members, 300 of which are elected through plurality voting and 200 through proportional representation, with a three-year mandate. The Senate of the Republic is composed by 128 members, 96 of which are elected through plurality voting and 32 through proportional representation, all with a six-year mandate.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

143/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Partly Free

Political Freedom:

3/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House