The Debates Commission of the National Electoral Institute reported today, Monday, that it allocated 41 million 212 thousand pesos for the production, logistics and transmission of the three presidential debates in 2024.
A review of transparency requests made in past years indicates that these debates were cheaper than those in 2018, but both far exceeded the total cost of those held in 2012.
In 2012
As will be remembered, the first presidential debate of 2012 took place on May 6 at the World Trade Center in Mexico City with the participation of the PRI member Enrique Peña Nieto, the PRD member Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and the PAN member Josefina Vázquez Mota. and Gabriel Quadri from Nueva Alianza.
The second debate was on June 10 at Expo Guadalajara with the same participants.
These two debates organized by the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) in 2012 cost the first 4 million 23 thousand pesos and the second 6 million 411 thousand pesos, which would give a total of 10 million 34 thousand pesos.
In 2018
The first presidential debate took place on April 22 at the Palacio de Minería in Mexico City with the attendance of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Ricardo Anaya, José Antonio Meade, Jaime Rodríguez “El Bronco” and Margarita Zavala. This had a cost of 12 million 607 thousand pesos.
Despite the departure of Margarita Zavala from the race, days after the second one, the spending allocated for the following ones increased.
As was the case of the second debate at the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), Tijuana Campus with a cost of 15 million 655 thousand pesos.
While the third represented an expense of 17 million 617 thousand pesos when it was held at the Great Museum of the Mayan World, in Mérida, Yucatán.
The figures obtained according to a transparency request reveal that a total of 44 million pesos were allocated.
In 2024
The first presidential debate cost 12.7 million pesos and was held, for the first time, at the facilities of the National Electoral Institute (INE).
The technical secretary, Iván Flores, explained that the second debate of Churubusco Studies had a cost of 15 million 173 thousand pesos, while the third, which was held at the Tlatelolco University Cultural Center, was 13 million 264 thousand pesos.
INE investigates internet failures in second debate
The Commission reported that the failures with the internet service are being investigated during the second debate, for which a penalty of around 600 thousand pesos was imposed on the company.
Counselor Dania Ravel asked to clarify the incidents with the internet connection, since according to the report one of the fiber optic cables was broken.
“It makes one believe or at least it can make one think of a narrative where there was a kind of boycott on this issue. And I think this has to be clarified a lot because they don’t even talk about cutting, but about chopping up,” he warned.
“I think we have to give a lot of clarity: was it cut intentionally because of what was noticed when the UTSI staff went up to the roof? Or does it seem like it was broken due to the continuous use of this cable? I think it’s something that must be clear so as not to give rise to speculation,” he stressed.
The president of the Debates Commission, Carla Humphrey, pointed out that a report was drawn up for these events, and emphasized the importance of carrying out all investigations to determine responsibilities.
“If the service was contracted, was reinforced and it seemed that there were no reasons for these failures, it must be investigated very clearly what happened, who is responsible. Yes, it is serious that a service is contracted and that perhaps for external reasons we do not have the provision in the terms and qualities that we required for the importance of this event,” he noted.
The technical secretary explained that the Internal Control Body has already been informed about these events, and pointed out that the responsibility lies with the service provider.
#presidential #debates #cost
2024-05-28 00:20:08