MoU Strengthens Collaboration with Mexico’s National Electoral Institute
To further strengthen its collaboration with the National Electoral Institute (Instituto Nacional Electoral [INE]), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mexican electoral body. The signing took place on August 14, 2017 during a bilateral meeting in Mexico City between Vice President of Programs Michael Svetlik and INE President Lorenzo Cordova. Officials of the Secretariat of Foreign Relations witnessed the signing ceremony.
The MoU renews the organizations’ longstanding commitment to develop joint activities that strengthen electoral democracy in Latin America and worldwide. These joint efforts include strengthening the capacities of electoral bodies through the INE’s International Center for Electoral Training and Research, and other training programs focused on campaign finance monitoring and other areas of technical cooperation.
“IFES has enjoyed a close working relationship with INE (formerly IFE) since 1993. The renewal of the MoU reinforces our partnership and underscores our joint commitment to promoting professional electoral practices, and strengthening professional relationships across the Americas,” said Svetlik, during the signing ceremony.
The signing of this MoU comes just before the beginning of a new electoral cycle in Mexico, which begins in September 2017. Mexico will hold elections on July 1, 2018, in which a new president will be elected, along with the renewal of both chambers of Congress and the election of several state authorities in 30 out of 32 states in Mexico. These elections will take place under a new model of organization for local and federal elections, following a 2014 constitutional reform.
