Reform Timetable, Reform Reaction

The Mexican Congress is planning to take up fiscal reform and political reform in February, with the goal of passing both by April.

For those of us who think reelection in Mexico is a good idea, this is disheartening (though not unexpected): 57 percent of respondents to an Excélsior poll are against the idea of mayoral reelection, compared to 60 who disapprove for legislators. Other portions of the proposal are widely endorsed: 93 percent favor the reduction in the size of the Congress, 68 percent like the president's line-item veto on budget issues, 74 percent support allowing the Supreme Court to propose laws, and 87 percent back permitting citizens to do so. And here's why reform has such wide backing (at least in part): 56 percent are somewhat or entirely dissatisfied with the state of Mexican democracy, an 11 point jump since 2000. (Although, aside from hopeless optimists, who isn't at least somewhat dissatisfied with the fruits of democracy?)