After a decade of implementing participatory budgeting in Mexico City, mayors are not obligated to inform the local Electoral Institute (IECM) of implementing projects chosen by residents, so their implementation is maintained under a blackout. .
In 2021, more than two billion pesos were spent on projects, some of which were modified without knowing the exact number. Even, through transparency, some mayors denied information about their appointment. This was the case of Benito Juarez, who justified that due to the pandemic, there were not enough staff to provide the data.
In an interview, electoral advisor Ernesto Ramos Mega said the reform is necessary for the mayor’s offices to report on the implementation of projects. Although it expects the turnout to be the same as in previous years – around 5 percent – 2022 expects there will be better quality on projects, given the requirement that proposals be better detailed.
So far, 6,591 proposals have been registered with the IECM, and about 223 regional units have not registered any project, which called on citizens to participate before March 17th.
He admitted that unlike representative democracy, in which a few minutes are spent voting, participatory democracy requires more time and long processes, which will be the reason for low citizen participation.
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