In Mexico, AMLO’s anti-corruption referendum falls flat
Last Sunday, a popular referendum—and flagship project of President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO)—asked Mexican voters whether ex-government officials should be subject to investigation and prosecution for allegations of impunity and corruption. However, the referendum, a key component of AMLO’s promises to crack down on graft and government impropriety, was a flop, drawing the participation of only seven percent of eligible voters, well below the 40 percent voter turnout threshold required for the referendum result to be legally binding (although over 98 percent of those who did cast ballots voted in favor of facilitating the prosecution of ex-officials).
The 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index: A frustrating lack of progress in the Americas
While Argentina and smaller countries from around the region have successfully improved perceived levels of corruption, many regional heavy hitters have slipped severely or remain among the world’s most corrupt governments.