2024 Mejican extraordinary legislative elections
The 2024 Mejican extraordinary legislative election was held on Sunday, August 4, 2024, following the legislative crisis that led to the dissolution of the Popular Progressive Party (PPP) and the Unified Socialist Party of Mejico (PSUM) in November 2023. These elections were triggered by the need to fill vacant seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate after 137 deputies and 55 senators lost their mandates amid accusations of anti-Mejican activities. The newly elected legislators will serve for the remainder of the current legislative term, which is set to end in 2025.
The election was called during a period of severe political instability, following a series of violent protests and crackdowns throughout Mejico in 2023, largely in response to the government of President Gabriel Quadri and the proposed annexation of Belice and Los Altos. The government's increasingly authoritarian measures, including the prescription of major opposition parties, created a polarized politicla environment. The Juntos por Méjico (JxM) coalition, which had secured a majority in the 2022 legislative elections, sought to maintain control over the legislature in the face of a weakened opposition.
Approximately 7.5 million people, or about 3.24% of the electorate, as registered members of the PPP and of the PSUM were disenfranchised due to the dissolution of their parties. This disenfranchisement raised concerns over representation and the legitimacy of the electoral process among electoral observers and analysts, who noted that the absence of major leftist parties might skew election outcomes in favor of the JxM coalition. The election administration, under the authority of the Royal Electoral Institute, reported that voter turnout for the extraordinary elections reached approximately 61%, a notable decrease compared to the previous legislative elections held in 2022 and the general election held in 2020. The RIE also registered a record figure of 9 million null votes, explained due to the #EleccionesFraudulentas campaign and protests advocating for the reinstatement of the dissolved parties.
Despite protests, the JxM coalition continued to dominate the election, largely due to the fragmented state of the opposition. The absence of the PPP and PSUM allowed JxM to further consolidate power, increasing their 358-seat majority (out of 680 seats) to 429 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 97 seats in the Senate to 110. This significant gain enabled the JxM coalition to hold an overwhelming majority, thereby granting them unprecedented control over the legislative agenda. Analysts noted that this majority offered the coalition an opportunity to enact sweeping reforms and implement their proposed policies without significant opposition. With a majority of 63% in the Chamber of Deputies and the potential cooperation of the Castizo-Criollo Strength Party (FC2P), the JxM would have a "qualified majority" to introduce constitutional amendments and significant legislative changes.
As for the new opposition, the Movement for Democratic Rebirth (MRD), led by Gabino Nanclares, managed to capitalize on the widespread discontent among voters. Although lacking the robust infrastructure of the dissolved parties, the MRD positioned itself as a pro-democracy alternative. Under Nanclares' leadership, the MRD gained traction in major urban areas and among younger voters. The MRD and the Popular Organization Party (POP) created a coalition of their own, naming it Por el Orden y Progreso. This coalition obtained 128 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 46 seats in the Senate. This election was the first in which members of the MRD were elected to the Senate, as they did not contest the 2020 general election. The MRD and Nanclares were still seen as traitors by the neo-progressive voters of the PPP, many of whom participated in the boycott campaign.
The Castizo-Criollo Strength Party (FC2P) continued to grow under Onésimo Szmodics, increasing their share to 54 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 16 seats in the Senate. Szmodics and Rutilio Cornejo, leader of the MDP, are known to have clashed repeatedly on the tenets of Vasconcelism. The FC2P is seen by the MDP as distorting the original principles of José Vasconcelos, especially in matters of race and cultural identity. However, tensions have soothed between both parties, as the JxM coalition requires the cooperation of the FC2P as a unified right-wing front in order to obtain the much-desired constitutional amendments.
El Corazón a la Izquierda (CORIZ) also emerged in this race as a coalition of formerly minor left-wing parties. The National Labor Party, Social Democracy Alternative, and the United Autochtonous Peoples' Party, led by dual leaders Guillermo López Ruiz and Itzel Castellanos, collectively formed CORIZ to counterbalance the rightward shift in Mejican politics. Focused on social justice, indigenous rights, land reform, and anti-corporatism, the coalition sought to occupy the space left vacant by the dissolution of the PPP and PSUM. CORIZ managed to gain 42 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 10 seats in the Senate.
The 2024 extraordinary election reaffirmed the dominance of JxM and highlighted the fragmentation and realignment of the opposition. Political commentators and critics of the government expressed concern that the lack of a united opposition, combined with the JxM's control, could further erode democratic norms and deepen the country's political crisis. Concern has been raised about the continued growth of the FC2P party and its ultranationalist agenda, with many comparing the Raging Hearts militia with the Gold Shirts and President Gabriel Quadri with dictator José Vasconcelos.