Scientists and some opposing lawmakers say the passing of the legislation violated normal procedures.
It seems to be part of a wider pattern of control and intimidation? This interview with a researcher is pretty interesting.
Cuts to the science budget have continued; the directors of several research institutes have been replaced by individuals who are sympathetic to the president; and in 2021 arrest warrants were issued for 31 academics at a science advisory organization critical of the government, accusing them of organized crime, money laundering and other offences. The charges were dropped, but the Academic Freedom Index recently highlighted Mexico as one of 19 countries where academic freedom has significantly declined over the past decade, and international observers have expressed concerns over the erosion of democratic institutions.
From the article:
Hundreds of scientists and about one-third of the members of Mexico’s Congress have filed lawsuits declaring a recently passed science law unconstitutional. They say that the legislation, called the General Law on Humanities, Sciences, Technologies and Innovation, was passed using an irregular procedure and that it could harm scientific development in the country.
More than 200 lawmakers in opposition to the law filed their complaint with Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation on 6 and 7 June, the last days of a 30-day period during which they could challenge the law’s constitutionality. If the Supreme Court agrees that the law was passed atypically, “it will be overturned”, says Brasil Acosta, a member of a unit of Mexico’s Congress called the Chamber of Deputies…
On 28 April, senators from the Morena party called a recess during an active Senate session and then held an ‘emergency session’ in another building to vote on the science bill, as well as on 19 others. The bills were passed in the early hours of the next morning…
Aside from how the law was passed, scientists and legislators are concerned about how the new legislation could affect science in the country. They say it concentrates power over research in the Mexican government. For instance, the law establishes a government council that will decide which science projects to prioritize for funding on the basis of their potential to solve national problems.
Yeah, that sounds suspect as hell. What’s the end goal in all of this?
There has been a lot of centralization of power under the administration of AMLO in Mexico. From abolishing regulatory agencies to examples like this, it’s no secret at this point that consolidation of power has been occurring at a federal level.
This is just the latest (and quite troublesome) development in his tenure. Mexico is worth keeping and eye on.
It is worth noting though, he has pretty high approval ratings (65% as of April) so citizens mostly support his actions during his tenure.
Thanks, that’s interesting.
Conservatism is a plague of oppression, ignorance and violence. It always has been.
Intelligence, education and humanity are corrosive to conservatism, so conservatives naturally attack those things.
Nothing good in history has ever come from conservatism. Nothing at all.
