Mexico Senate approves president's controversial electoral reform

Mexico City: Mexico's Senate on Thursday approved a controversial reform proposed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that will reduce the budget and structure of the electoral body, a move critics say will impede its independence.

The proposal is a watered-down version of the radical reforms originally sought by Lopez Obrador that were altered after mass opposition protests against a perceived attack on a vital democratic institution.

The "Plan B" proposal was approved with 68 votes in favor and 50 against, after a marathon session in the Senate which began on Wednesday.

The proposal will now return to the lower house -- which approved it last week -- to review changes made by the Senate. It will then head to the president for promulgation.

Lopez Obrador alleges that the National Electoral Institute (INE) endorsed fraud when he ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2006 and 2012, before winning in 2018.

Under his initial plan, the INE would have been replaced by a new body with members chosen by voters instead of lawmakers.

The number of seats in the lower house of Congress would have been reduced from 500 to 300, and those in the Senate from 128 to 96.

On Wednesday, the INE said in a statement that even the "Plan B" changes contained "deficiencies that endanger the workings of the electoral process."

"The INE was never consulted about the contents of said reform," nor was it asked for information or a technical opinion on the proposed changes.

The body added that it would take all legal measures to "keep guaranteeing free and authentic elections."

This raises the possibility that the INE, as well as the opposition, will turn to the Supreme Court to challenge the reform.

Lopez Obrador hailed the approval of the reform, saying it would "improve" the electoral system, but lamented the fact that it did not go further.

"Since the constitution could not be amended, it is a limited reform," he told a press conference.