The constitutional amendment would apply beginning with the 2028 electoral process.

On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum defended a constitutional reform that requires anyone seeking the presidency or a state governorship to renounce any other nationality.

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“Any Mexican citizen born in Mexico or not can have many nationalities, but if they want to be governor or president, they can only have one nationality,” she said.

Her reaction came after the Mexican Senate on Tuesday approved by qualified majority a constitutional reform requires candidates for the presidency, state governorships or the Mexico City mayor’s office to hold only Mexican nationality.

The bill, approved by a vote of 86-42, was sent to state legislatures and amends three articles of the Constitution to establish that those seeking those positions must be Mexican by birth and must not hold or acquire another nationality. If they hold another nationality, they must renounce it before registering as candidates and provide proof that their legal relationship with the other state has ended.

🚨🇲🇽 BREAKING — President Sheinbaum:

“I could say— It’s Very Difficult to Live Next to a Country With Such High Illegal Drug Use — Or So Many Weapons Sold…

I’m not going to say that though — because we have a good relationship with President Trump.” pic.twitter.com/Iz5S7UwKiX

— Pamphlets (@PamphletsY) September 24, 2026

Sheinbaum defended the initiative by questioning whether a president can “swear allegiance” to two flags. “When there is a problem between those two countries, whom are you going to defend? Another country or Mexico?” she stressed, pointing out that in times of foreign interference, it is very important for Mexicans “to have clarity that their most important elected representatives have only one nationality.”

She questioned criticism from opposition senators, who argued that the reform restricts the political rights of Mexican migrants or people with dual nationality. “They wanted to launch a campaign saying that we did not allow dual nationality for our compatriots. False, absolutely false,” the Mexican leader said.

Sheinbaum reiterated that any Mexican will be able to retain two or more nationalities and that the requirement applies only to those seeking to head the federal and state executives covered by the reform.

The changes will apply beginning with the 2028 electoral process and will not affect those already holding any of those positions when the reform takes effect. The constitutional reform must now receive the support of a majority of the legislatures in Mexico’s 32 states before it can be officially published.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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