Mexico’s top electoral official announced Sunday that she will step down from her post after facing mounting pressure over a newly opened corruption investigation into election-related contracts.
Guadalupe Taddei, president of the National Electoral Institute, known as the INE, stated that she will formally submit her resignation to the lower house of Congress on October 26. In her announcement, Taddei emphasized that the move is intended to protect the independence and institutional credibility of the agency responsible for overseeing the nation’s elections.
Mexico’s Superior Audit Office initiated the inquiry on Friday to examine suspected irregularities surrounding contracts for election supplies. The probe encompasses potential conflicts of interest, collusion, and the diversion of public funds, with public and investigative attention focusing on reported connections between Taddei and a businessman whose firms secured contracts with the institute.
Addressing the allegations through social media and media outlets, Taddei characterized some of the claims as manipulated and unverified. She maintained that any accusations should be evaluated objectively on the basis of evidence through proper institutional channels.
“The responsibility of organizing elections goes far beyond any individual,” Taddei said in her statement. “This decision reflects my conviction that protecting the Institute and allowing it to continue fulfilling its constitutional mission must always take precedence over any immediate or personal interest.”
In addition to contract scrutiny, investigative pressure has targeted specific appointments within the electoral body, with reports indicating that certain officials share prior connections to the companies currently under review. No formal finding of personal wrongdoing has been established against Taddei.
As a constitutionally autonomous entity, the INE manages Mexico’s federal elections, maintains the national voter registry, and oversees political campaign financing, cementing its independence as a cornerstone of the country’s democratic framework.
Taddei noted that despite the leadership transition, ongoing preparations for Mexico’s upcoming midterm elections next summer remain on schedule and are proceeding as planned. Taddei assumed leadership of the institute in April 2023, making history as the first woman to head the agency after being appointed by lawmakers to a nine-year term.
