Mexican Presidential Candidates Must Hold Only Mexican Citizenship: Sheinbaum Signs Constitutional Reform

Original article: Aspirantes a la Presidencia de México no podrán tener otra nacionalidad: Sheinbaum promulgó reforma constitucional

The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has signed a constitutional reform decree stipulating that individuals aspiring to the presidency, governorships, or the Mayor’s Office of Mexico City must hold solely Mexican nationality.

Additionally, this decree prohibits federal and state executive authorities from acquiring foreign citizenship, holding passports from other countries, or seeking protection from foreign diplomatic entities.

According to reports, this reform will take effect in 2028 after being approved by Congress and will not impact the 2027 midterm elections.

Officials from President Sheinbaum’s administration have indicated that this initiative addresses the strategic necessity of ensuring that state representation comes from leaders who are unequivocally committed to the nation, free from ambiguities or conflicts of interest.

In light of criticisms regarding discrimination raised by right-wing factions, the Presidential Legal Advisor, Luisa María Alcalde, clarified that anyone with dual nationality can renounce their other citizenship before registering with the National Electoral Institute.

«If a candidate holds dual or multiple nationalities, they must formally and legally renounce any other citizenship,» stated the Presidential Advisor.

Lastly, Alcalde announced that in the coming weeks, the federal government will issue regulatory provisions detailing the procedure for renouncing other citizenships, which will involve not only the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE) but also the relevant diplomatic representations of the associated countries.