Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has sent a proposal for constitutional reform to Congress that stipulates that candidates for president, governors and the head of the government of Mexico City must have no citizenship other than Mexican.
Under the initiative, people who have a second citizenship would have to renounce it before registering as candidates. Sheinbaum argues that the change is intended to ensure that the country's top leaders prioritize Mexico's national interests.
The proposal provides for changes to articles 82, 116 and 122 of the Constitution. Presidential candidates are also required to be Mexican citizens by birth, have at least one Mexican parent and have lived in Mexico for at least 20 years.
The initiative has been opposed by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which considers it discriminatory. According to the PRI, dual citizenship is a right and should not be used to limit the political rights of Mexican citizens.
Mexico has recognized dual citizenship for Mexicans by birth since the 1997 constitutional reform.
The draft reform is expected to be reviewed by Congress starting September 1 and will need constitutional approval to enter into force.
