Amid allegations of corruption, the president of the National Electoral Institute (INE), Guadalupe Taddei, announced her resignation on Sunday.
“After deep reflection, I have decided to present my resignation tomorrow, Oct. 26, to the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of the Union,” Taddei said in a statement.
#BoletínINE 📄 | Mensaje de la Consejera Presidenta del Instituto Nacional Electoral, Guadalupe Taddei Zavala.
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— @INEMexico (@INEMexico) October 25, 2026
“… This decision reflects my conviction that protecting the [National Electoral] Institute and allowing it to continue fulfilling its constitutional mission, must always take precedence over any temporary or personal interest,” she said.
It is the first time since the Federal Electoral Institute (the INE’s predecessor) was founded in 1990 that a president of the electoral authority has resigned. Luis Carlos Ugalde, a former chief of the electoral authority, told Bloomberg Línea that both allegations of corruption against an electoral chief and Taddei’s resignation as INE president are “unprecedented.”
Taddei’s announcement came after Mexican media outlets, including Reforma, El Universal and Latinus, reported last week on alleged irregularities in INE contracts and her ties to businessman José Alfredo Hernández Casillas. The outgoing INE president reportedly has a close personal relationship with Hernández, whose family’s companies have received lucrative INE contracts.
In an article published on Monday under the headline “Taddei is leaving,” the newspaper Reforma noted that it documented how Hernández — who is linked to various electoral materials suppliers — “obtained [electoral authority] contracts since Taddei presided over the electoral organization of Sonora” between 2014 and 2021.
Taddei’s “closeness” to Hernández allowed the latter to obtain contracts awarded by high-ranking INE officials, Reforma reported. The newspaper also reported that Jonathan Navarrete Torres, an employee of Hernández, was on the INE’s payroll as Taddei’s chauffeur without actually working in that role.
In addition, Reforma reported on Monday that it had “revealed” that seven INE suppliers remained under investigation by the federal government’s Financial Intelligence Unit for money laundering and “simulation” in bidding processes. The allegation is that seven companies linked to Hernández and his brother feigned competition for contracts awarded by the INE and the State Electoral Institute in Sonora under Taddei’s leadership.
Reforma also noted that video footage had emerged showing Taddei and two of her children socializing with Hernández.
“One video filmed by the businessman shows a son of Taddei [Jorge Francisco Piñeda Taddei] enjoying a stay at the most expensive hotel in Paris,” Reforma reported. “‘Paris at your feet, young man,’ the businessman says in the video, boasting about the gift.”
The ASF launches an investigation
In light of the various media reports about alleged corruption at the INE, the Federal Auditor’s Office (ASF) announced on Friday that it had begun an investigation into allegations regarding the “improper use of public resources.”
In a statement, the ASF said the investigation “covers” the INE, state-based electoral authorities, companies, public servants and suppliers “that are related to each other.”
The ASF said there is “already evidence … related to irregularities in several contracts” as well as conflicts of interest, collusion and triangulation of resources.”
It said it would investigate allegations involving the INE with “complete independence, objectivity and technical rigor.”
“A Mexico without corruption is possible,” concluded the ASF statement.
Taddei: ‘Each allegation must be examined with evidence’
In her statement on Sunday, Taddei acknowledged the accusations that have been leveled against her.
“I am aware of the allegations that have circulated in the media and on social media in recent days, including rumors, fabrications, leaks and accounts whose authenticity, context and purpose — as in all cases — must be verified and corroborated,” she said.
“… Each allegation must be examined with evidence and through institutional channels,” Taddei said.
In a separate statement on Saturday, she said that “no hiring process, public servant or supplier is above the law.”
Taddei also said that some high-ranking INE officials had been stood down, but she didn’t name them.
The outgoing INE president said on Sunday she was resigning “with calmness and dignity” after dedicating 33 years of her life “to electoral service in Mexico.”
Taddei said her decision “does not relieve anyone of the duty to clarify, with transparency, rigor and due process, the events that must be investigated.”
The 63-year-old Sonora native began what was supposed to be a nine-year term at the INE in early 2023. Mexico News Daily reported at the time that Taddei had family links to both the federal government and the ruling Morena party.
The opposition National Action Party (PAN) said at the time that it was “completely unacceptable that the person who seeks to preside over our electoral umpire is clearly linked to Morena.”
The PAN had called for Taddei’s resignation in light of the corruption allegations outlined in various media reports.
“If contracts were rigged, we are very concerned that elections will be rigged as well,” said PAN national president Jorge Romero.
Sheinbaum endorses Taddei’s decision to resign
At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum described Taddei’s decision to step down as INE president as “good.”
“… Obviously, an investigation has to be carried out. … There has to be an audit in order to review the suspicions or the allegations there have been regarding abuses or privileges within the INE,” she said.
Sheinbaum stressed that there will be no interruption to the INE’s work despite Taddei’s decision to resign. One of the INE’s electoral councilors will head up the electoral authority until the Chamber of Deputies appoints a new president.
The INE’s main focus is currently the federal, state and municipal elections that will be held on June 6, 2027.
With reports from EFE, Reforma and Bloomberg Línea