Mexico Bars Dual Nationals from Presidency and State Governorships

This morning, during her daily press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum signed the constitutional decree banning anyone with dual nationality from running for the presidency, state governorships, and the Head of Government of Mexico City.

This follows yesterday's approval by both chambers after receiving green lights from 22 state congresses. The reform was declared valid, and the decree was sent to the Executive Branch for publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation this afternoon.

The 22 state congresses that approved the constitutional reforms are: Baja California, Campeche, Chiapas, Mexico City, Colima, Guerrero, Estado de México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, and Zacatecas.

The Legal Counsel of the Presidency, Luisa María Alcalde, noted that the law will come into effect in 2028. Furthermore, she explained that the procedure for renouncing dual nationality for those aspiring to any of the aforementioned positions will be established in secondary legislation. She highlighted that this process will involve not only the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, but also other government bodies and the relevant authorities in the countries where candidates hold alternative citizenship—all of which must take place prior to registering their candidacy with the National Electoral Institute (INE).

Image: Gobierno de México