The Inter-American Court for Human Rights Rules That Mexico Did Not Violate The Political Rights of Ex-Counselor Jorge Castaneda

By Maria E. Molina
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

Mexico City, Mexico - The Inter-American Court of Human Rights held that Jorge Castaneda, a former Mexican Cabinet secretary, could not prove that his "political and equality rights" were violated.

The lawsuit against Mexico, presented to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission in March of 2007, questioned the constitutionality of the candidacy law and the process by which political rights are violated and then reclaimed.

Jorge Castaneda claimed that, due to Mexican legislation that prohibited candidates from running for the presidency as an independent candidate, Mexican electoral authorities denied  him the right to run as an independent presidential candidate in the 2006 Mexican presidential election.  The legislation required political parties to elect candidates in order for them to run for the presidency.

In 2007, Mexico's Congress passed legislation that allows candidates, with no party affiliation, to run for public office.

For more information, please see:

AP - Rights court rules against Mexican politician - 3 September 2008

Univision - Derechos del ex canciller mexicano no fueron violados (Corte Interamericana) - 2 September 2008