Mexico City, Mexico — President Sheinbaum is sending an initiative to Congress to renounce dual nationality Mexicans from holding president and governor positions. She has proposed to modify Articles 82, 116 and 122 to establish that whoever holds the position may not acquire or request another nationality.
The amendment also states that the use of foreign identity documents, the exercise of rights inherent to foreign citizenship or taking advantage of its diplomatic protection, is prohibited.
“They must renounce any other citizenship they may have and retain only their Mexican nationality to ensure that the nation’s interest takes precedence over any other interest,” she said in her August 27 announcement.
Sheinbaum says the constitutional reform will be for those who wish to occupy the Presidency of the Republic or governorships. Anyone with a dual citizenship wishing to do so must renounce their dual nationality with the objective that the interest of Mexico is above any other.
“The goal is to guarantee that any Mexican citizen who wishes to be President of the Republic, governor, or head of government must be solely Mexican without holding any other nationality.
“Currently, the Constitution does not clearly state, and there have been governors with dual nationality, that they must renounce any other nationality before becoming a candidate,” she explained Thursday.
“And now what we are proposing to the Congress of the Union is that once they register, which is the moment when they wish to be president or head of the executive of any entity of the Republic, they must renounce any other citizenship they may have, and only retain Mexican nationality to guarantee that the interest of the nation is above any other interest of any other State or nation in the world,” Sheinbaum said.
During a press conference, she explained that this initiative responds to the need for Mexican leaders to be Mexican citizens in the face of foreign interference.
“The paramount interest must be Mexico, not any other country,” she emphasized.
Legal Advisor Luisa María Alcalde Luján explained that Articles 82, 116, and 122 of the Constitution establish that, to hold the Presidency of the Republic, or to be a governor or head of government, it is necessary to be a Mexican citizen by birth.
Meanwhile, Article 32 establishes that “the exercise of the offices and functions for which, by provision of this Constitution, it is required to be a Mexican citizen by birth, is reserved to those who have that status and do not acquire another nationality,” which creates a gap that has led to interpretive confusion.
The person holding the position may not acquire or request another nationality, nor invoke before a foreign authority a nationality other than Mexican.
“This prohibition also includes the use of a passport or identity document issued by a foreign State, the exercise of political rights inherent to citizenship before that State, and seeking its diplomatic protection. Violation of this provision will be sanctioned in accordance with Title Four of this Constitution.”
She added that this wording is also contemplated for article 116, in the case of governors, and 122 for the head of government in Mexico City.
She reported that once the reform is approved, modifications to the Nationality Law will be proposed to establish the rules for renouncing dual nationality before Mexican authorities as well as the authorities of the country of which one is a (dual) national.
