Organized crime is the greatest threat to democracy: Claudia Zavala

Within the framework of XXXVI International Congress of Electoral Studies: Electoral integrity in contexts of violence and insecurity in Latin America, which takes place in the University of Medellin, Colombiathe advisor of the National Electoral Institute (INE), Claudia Zavala Pérez presented – virtually – Notebook 48 for the Dissemination of Democratic Culture. “Democracy, de facto powers and criminal governance regimes”, by author Sandra Ley.

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In this framework, the counselor called to appropriate the Institute’s collection of booklets and continue building a better society “in which the principle of democracy, peace, harmony and social order becomes a reality, because that is what we work for at the INE, to continue building a better society.”

As established by the author, she said, organized crime is one of the greatest threats to Mexican democracy and to the general harmony of the country.

Therefore, it coincided with Sandra Ley, specialist in issues related to criminal violence, in reinforcing the importance of developing coordinated strategies between parties, security authorities and electoral authorities that prevent and address the safety of candidates, officials and voters in different roles and stages of the electoral process.

But above all, he added, policies are needed that truly build the rule of law in the country, since “without the dismantling of the protection networks that for decades has supported organized crime in the country, little will change, and on the contrary, much more will be sacrificed in the democratic life of the country.”

In the presentation, in which they also participated Luis Zamora Cobián and Luis Antonio Sánchez Cazola, Executive Member and Member of Electoral Training and Civic Education, respectively, of the Local Executive Board of the INE in Jalisco, Counselor Zavala mentioned four consequences of the growing control of organized crime that the author includes and which she calls “criminal governance”, that impact the integrity of the democratic system:

“One, less confidence and enthusiasm of citizens to vote and to participate as polling station officials. Two, less social control over the conduct and effectiveness of public authorities. Three, fear of participating as candidates. Four, threat or absence of free voting.”

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Zavala Pérez established that the great challenge that the country has is for synergies to bear fruit, “but I am also sure that we will continue making efforts to reestablish our security conditions,” she assured.