MEXICO CITY, May 24 – The Mexico City Congress has commenced public forums to discuss reforms to the Citizen Participation Law. These discussions aim to gather opinions and proposals from Community Participation Commissions (COPACOS), indigenous communities, and the general public, with the goal of enriching the existing legal framework, which has been in effect for seven years.
Forums Across All 16 Boroughs to Conclude in August
The “Analysis and Discussion of the Citizen Participation Law” forums, scheduled to take place in all 16 boroughs, began last Friday and are set to conclude on August 21st. The initial two forums were held in the boroughs of La Magdalena Contreras and Álvaro Obregón, attracting over 200 and 300 attendees, respectively.
In the morning, the Víctor Manuel Mendoza cinema hosted legislators and experts who exchanged views with residents of La Magdalena Contreras. In the afternoon, a similar event took place at the San Ángel Cultural Center.
Strengthening Popular Sovereignty Through Citizen Input
Ángel Tamariz Sánchez, President of the capital’s Congress Commission for Democratic and Citizen Participation, led both events. He emphasized that the purpose of these forums is to collectively analyze and discuss potential improvements to the legislation.
“The objective of the law is for the voice of citizens to be the protagonist in the direction of the city. It is about strengthening popular sovereignty, which is enshrined in this law,” Tamariz Sánchez stated.
During his presentation, he outlined the challenges of the current law, categorized into eight thematic areas. These include strengthening the powers of COPACOS, consolidating an open parliamentary model, leveraging technology, and enhancing transparency in the Participatory Budget.
He also underscored the importance of the Citizen Participation Law’s legal framework, as it regulates and guarantees the right of all residents of Mexico City to participate in public decisions, a principle also enshrined in the capital’s Political Constitution.
Calls for Active Citizen Engagement and Dialogue
During the first forum, Deputy César Emilio Guijosa Hernández urged the public to utilize these dialogue spaces organized by the Mexico City Congress, assuring them that their voices would be heard.
“We must value the issue of community representation and also another very important one, which is the Participatory Budget. We need to see what needs to be changed in the Citizen Participation Law; to see what is already a dead letter and modify it,” emphasized the representative from La Magdalena Contreras.
In the second forum, legislator María del Rosario Morales Ramos highlighted the capital’s Congress’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with residents to strengthen the legislation. “We want to reform the Citizen Participation Law, as it has not been updated in many years, and it is important for the public to participate in its reform and strengthening,” affirmed the representative from Álvaro Obregón.
Key Stakeholders and Common Concerns
Representatives from the Superior Audit Office of Mexico City (ASCM), the Mexico City Electoral Institute (IECM), and the Public Defender’s Office for Citizen Participation and Democratic Processes participated in both forums, alongside members of both outgoing and incoming COPACOS.
On behalf of the ASCM, Marco Antonio Soto affirmed the institution’s efforts to engage with citizens, so they understand the importance of accountability in the management of public resources, including the Participatory Budget.
Alma Lilia Lara from the IECM described the Citizen Participation Law as a fundamental working instrument and agreed on the importance of discussing the regulations surrounding the Participatory Budget.
Carmen Fernández Domínguez of the Public Defender’s Office detailed the free advice, guidance, and support provided by her organization for monitoring COPACOS actions.
Residents at both forums raised several common concerns regarding citizen participation. These included the involvement of borough officials in COPACOS, projects under the Participatory Budget that should ideally be funded by the boroughs’ own budgets, poorly executed projects, lack of transparency in project implementation, and inflated costs for materials and services in completed works.
Source: https://www.congresocdmx.gob.mx/comsoc-inicia-congreso-cdmx-foros-sobre-reformas-ley-participacion-ciudadana-7526-1.html
