AS THINGS stand Mexican ex-presidents have immunity from prosecution, but last year the current president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (Amlo) persuaded Congress and the Supreme Court to authorise a referendum (“consultation”) on changing this so as to end impunity. The vote will take place on Sunday August 1 2021.
The last five presidents at least are suspected of massive corruption and human rights abuses.
Amlo already ended his own judicial immunity, and it is obviously absurd that former presidents should enjoy a privilege denied to the incumbent.
Actual prosecutions would no doubt still be slow and complex, but the issue has great political significance for Amlo’s “transformation” programme aimed at ending corruption and impunity and ensuring real democratic accountability.