Alarm in Mexico over bill to annul elections for 'foreign interference'

Mexico’s senate has passed a constitutional amendment to make "foreign interference" grounds to annul election results. The bill, presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum, defines foreign interference as "illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic dissemination of misinformation, digital manipulation, and the intervention of foreign governments or agencies." Opponents warn the language is so broad that virtually anything could be used to void a result — an article in a British newspaper, a statement from a US official, a report from an international NGO.

"This is one of the most egregious, alarming and retrograde pieces of legislation in Mexico’s young democratic history," said Arturo Sarukhan. The amendment already passed the lower house and now needs ratification by a majority of Mexico’s 32 states; Sheinbaum’s Morena controls 24 statehouses.

Mexico

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