Mexico City – The Mexican Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling mandating the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) to remove references to former National Electoral Institute (INE) President Lorenzo Córdova Vianello from primary school textbooks. The decision, finalized on July 31, 2024, stems from a legal challenge Córdova filed in August 2023, alleging defamation and a violation of his rights.
The dispute centers on a passage in the “Community Projects” textbook for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, specifically on page 234, which recounts a 2015 incident. The text describes Córdova allegedly “mocking” representatives of indigenous nations. Córdova argued the portrayal damaged his honor, reputation, dignity, and presumption of innocence, and negatively impacted children’s right to an objective education.
While the Court confirmed the amparo (protection order) granted to Córdova regarding the impact on his honor and reputation, it rejected his claim of a violation of the right to education, stating he lacked the standing to invoke that right on behalf of children.The ruling requires the SEP to eliminate all mentions of Córdova from both printed and digital versions of the textbook.
The SEP had already completed the distribution of 82,980,263 textbooks for the upcoming school year, which begins September 1st. The court’s decision necessitates a revision of the textbooks, perhaps incurring additional costs and logistical challenges for the Ministry.
President Claudia sheinbaum Pardo addressed the ruling on July 28th, stating the government would respect the Court’s decision but hinted at a continued intention to address the 2015 incident, stating, “We are going to see what the Court says, but the truth is that, even if the Court decided, we will continue to mention it.” This statement has raised questions about the government’s commitment to fully complying with the Court’s order.
The legal proceedings involved an initial amparo granted by a federal judge, which was then challenged by the SEP. Córdova subsequently filed an “adhesive resource” (recurso de adhesión), escalating the case to the Supreme Court. The case was heard before a panel of five justices within the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court, led by Minister Yasmín Esquivel Mossa.
This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the current administration and autonomous institutions, particularly the INE, which has been a frequent target of criticism from President Sheinbaum and her Morena party. The controversy surrounding the textbook content also reflects broader debates about historical narratives and depiction in mexican education. The SEP is now facing a deadline to implement the Court’s ruling before the start of the school year, and the potential for further legal challenges remains.