Latin America Advisor 2022-03-24 – Inter-American Dialogue

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

March 22, 2022

Is Mexico Right to Rein In Civil Society Groups?

Mexican Congresswoman Reyna Celeste Ascencio Ortega has proposed controversial legislation related to civil society organizations. // File Photo: via Twitter @CelesteAscenci8.

Q

Legislation under consideration in Mexico’s Congress would bar nonprofit organizations from lobbying or litigating to influence or change legislation if they receive funding from foreign governments or corporations. Some supporters of the measure have accused civil society groups of violating Mexico’s national sovereignty by blocking government proposals, while opponents say the legislation would silence views that are critical of the government. What are the motives behind the legislation, and how likely is it to become law? If the measure is enacted, how would it affect civil society groups in Mexico? Do nonprofit groups in Mexico need more protection, or is this a reasonable effort to get big money and special interests out of Mexico’s political process?

A

Rubén Olmos, president of Global Nexus: “Mexican authorities have the right to regulate lobbying activities, which for many years had been opaque given Mexico’s one- or two-party political system, in which they have controlled the presidency and the Congress and exercised control over influence activities done by other third-party actors. However, in this instance, we are dealing with a very different case in which, based on day-to-day missteps by President López Obrador’s administration, he blames foreign governments and argues that they are funding certain NGOs and interest groups to derail and attack his government. The bill, presented by the ruling Morena Congresswoman Reyna Celeste Ascencio back in February, proposes to reform the Income Tax Law to strengthen the authority’s capabilities to audit NGOs, and it requires them to fully disclose their funding, especially if the money comes from abroad…”

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Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
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J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
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Peter Hakim
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Jon E. Huenemann
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James R. Jones
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Craig Kelly
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Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
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US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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