• BRIEF: Mexico’s Electoral Tribunal filed a a brief before the Supreme Court arguing against allowing the new Governor of Baja California, Jaime Bonilla, to extend his term until 2024 saying the action is unconstitutional and undermines free elections.
• CONTEXT: Baja California is Mexico’s northernmost State (pop. 3.3 million). In July, Baja’s Congress passed a controversial law that pushed the end of Bonilla’s term from 2021 to 2024. Bonilla -who ran under the Morena party banner- was sworn in on November 1.
• ARGUMENT: “The controversial extension of the Governor’s term in office, beyond the period for which he has democratically elected, prevents the exercise of universal, free, secret and direct vote”, says the consultative brief prepared by the Electoral Tribunal for the Mexican Supreme Court.
• COURT: it is not clear when exactly the Mexican Supreme Court will delve on the topic after several opposition parties in Mexico presented a legal resource to revert the Baja California’s Congress law; critics say that allowing the extension of Bonilla’s term would set a bad precedent.
