Mexico - December 2024

On 21 December, a series of constitutional amendments backed by the executive entered into force abolishing seven autonomous bodies, including the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection. The other autonomous institutions had mandates related to evaluation of social development policy, economic competition, telecommunications, education, and energy and hydrocarbon regulation. According to the ruling coalition in Congress and government officials, the amendments aim to simplify bureaucracy, cut costs and corruption; the functions of these bodies will now be distributed and carried out by other ministries and government institutions. Critics and opposition politicians have denounced the amendments, arguing they weaken checks on government, the accountability of public officials, and people’s access to information and privacy rights.

Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación, El Financiero, El Universal, Reuters