Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum presented a three-point "Plan B" for her electoral reform initiative on Thursday, March 12, after the original proposal was rejected in the Chamber of Representatives with 259 votes in favor, 234 against, and one abstention — falling short of the 334 votes required to amend the Constitution.

During a press conference, Sheinbaum explained that the alternative plan pursues the same fundamental goals as its predecessor, focusing on the reduction of institutional privileges and the expansion of citizen participation in public consultations.

"Plan B has the same objective as Plan A: to reduce privileges; the second objective is to expand participation in public consultations," the president stated.

Among the issues that would be subject to popular consultation are public funds earmarked for the organization of elections and for political and electoral institutions — matters that the Constitution currently excludes from such mechanisms.

"There will be topics that should not go to public consultation, because they belong to the Republic, but others should not be excluded, because at this moment electoral matters are entirely prohibited from being put to a public vote," she added.

Presidential Mandate Revocation

Sheinbaum also addressed proposed modifications to the presidential recall mechanism, suggesting that the process be made available during either the third or fourth year of an administration, rather than exclusively in the fourth year as currently established.

"At this moment, it is possible in the fourth year. The proposal is that the revocation of the mandate can take place in the third or fourth year — it has to do with citizens requesting the revocation," the Mexican leader said.

The recall referendum in Mexico is a citizen-driven instrument designed to determine the early termination of an elected official's term, based on a loss of public confidence, with particular application to the Executive Branch.