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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | September 2006 
Supreme Court Nears Decision
 El Universal
After Tuesday´s session, the Supreme Court was a step away from allowing independent candidates to run for political posts.
Six of 11 justices on the court came out in favor of an argument that interprets the Mexican Constitution as allowing candidates not backed by any political party. However, the final vote was delayed until Thursday.
Under debate was a measure approved in the state of Yucatán that would allow for independent candidacies in elections for state lawmakers, municipal presidencies and governors. For the ruling to be overturned, eight justices would have to vote against it.
If approved, the measure could open the door for presidential hopefuls such as Víctor González Torres - famous for his discount pharmacies - and Jorge Castañeda, formerly President Vicente Fox´s foreign relations secretary. Both unsuccessfully sought to launch independent bids ahead of the July 2 presidential election.
Castañeda filed a case with the Supreme Court on the matter, but the court rejected the appeal for technical reasons. González Torres launched a massive media campaign before the election, calling on voters to put his name in the space for write-in candidates on the ballot.
Following Tuesday´s argument, presented by Justice Juan Silva Meza, a majority on the court seemed to agree that the Constitution does not give parties a monopoly on political candidacies and that independent candidacies should be permitted.
However, Chief Justice Mariano Azuela said allowing independent candidates would generate "chaos and ungovernability." |
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