Mexico's Gálvez accuses Morena of censorship; Hernández defends party's political approach

Former Mexican presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez has accused the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum of attempting to censor media outlets. Gálvez published a video asserting that the federal government seeks to control information by allowing authorities to decide what is true or false. She criticized the push for a "right of reply" mechanism, arguing it is a guise for censorship and a way for the government to audit information, recalling that former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador denied her this right in 2023.

Gálvez also accused the National Electoral Institute (INE) of overlooking alleged premature campaign activities by the ruling Morena party for the 2027 elections. She stated that the government's actions aim to silence critics and undermine democratic discourse. The opposition leader emphasized that such measures erode press freedom and public trust in information.

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the defense of the audiences in reality is, the government of Morena is trying to censor and become auditors of the information.

Citlalli Hernández, president of Morena's National Elections Commission, refuted Gálvez's accusations, asserting that opposition parties have ample space in various media to voice their criticisms. Hernández described Morena's "Mañaneras del Pueblo" (People's Morning Sessions) as a vital space for information, the right of reply, and direct communication between the government and the public, which she claims was previously absent. She argued that guidelines for audience rights do not equate to censorship but rather strengthen citizens' rights.

"Asking media to have a code of ethics, an audience defender, and distinguish between information, opinion, and advertising is not censorship; it is strengthening people's rights," Hernández stated. Regarding claims of premature campaigning, she maintained that these are internal party activities, not official campaign acts. Hernández concluded by suggesting Gálvez lacks understanding of internal party organization and political work, contrasting it with the PRIAN (PAN and PRI alliance) approach of appearing only during official campaign periods.

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Asking media to have a code of ethics, an audience defender, and distinguish between information, opinion, and advertising is not censorship; it is strengthening people's rights.