The Senate rejected the appointment of a new commissioner, preventing the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection (INAI) from achieving a quorum. This failure underscores the deep political fragmentation and obstructionism that threaten the institute’s ability to operate as an independent oversight body, leaving it unable to deliberate on critical transparency issues. The rejection coincided with a controversial initiative to abolish the INAI, highlighting a broader political effort to weaken institutions committed to public accountability. The tense atmosphere, marked by protests inside the chamber, illustrates the intense conflict surrounding the protection of civil rights and the rule of law in Mexico. This situation is highly relevant to open data, as the INAI serves as the primary guarantor of citizens’ right to access public information. Without a fully functional commission, the enforcement of transparency laws stalls, potentially hindering the availability and quality of open data for research, journalism, and civic engagement.
Source:Published on 2023-04-29