MEXICO´S COUNTRY REPORT ON E-DEMOCRACY Government On-Line International Network Mexico City September 2001

CONTENTS E-Democracy Current Situation Mexico On Line Citizen´s Participation System for the Technology and Science Transition Team Citizen´s Consultation for the National Development Plan

Very recent term, there´s still some ambiguity: E-voting Congress Online Virtual Parties Services online Online citizen consultation To enable the citizen to participate in the policy making This brings a new dynamic that only tecnology permits. E-DEMOCRACY

CURRENT SITUATION What has been done in Mexico, regarding Online Consultation? There are three pilot projects at the national level: o M é xico en L í nea (Mexico On Line: o Citizen´s Participation System for the Technology and Science Transition Team ( cyt.org.mx/asp/inicio/indice.asp) o Citizen´s Consultation for the National Development Plan (Plan Nacional de Desarrollo).

MEXICO ON LINE Developed by the President´s Office Their aim is to break the old paradigms about the citizen-government relationship The first step in the is a 24 hours a day -7 days a week digital broadcasting channel, in the web page. The channel has three main segments: Alive broadcasting of the program “ M é xico en L í nea ” In a roundtable format the presenters chat with the guests, which are remarkable members of the public administration or of some NGO. Broadcasting of the President´s Program.The radio program transmitted by the President every Saturday is broadcasted by this channel at the same time. 24-hour Channel. The remaining time of the transmition is Mexican music and public campaigns of the federal government´s programs.

MEXICO ON LINE The results that already have been achieved are: Approach to the citizenry by the provision of information. Use of the available interactivity. Problem solving by receiving the citizen´s concerns, and channeling them to the responsible authority.

The results expected in the future are: Rise of credibility and going from strength to strenght in citizen- government relationship. Opinion polls. Consultation oriented to the modification of public policy. MEXICO ON LINE PUBLIC POLICY

The Participation System in Internet allowed: Reception Classification Discussion and Publication of the proposals made by the members of the science and technology community. CITIZEN´S PARTICIPATION SYSTEM FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE TRANSITION TEAM After the presidential elections of the 2 of July of 2000, “transition teams” were built around different public issues The Science and Technology Transition Team considered the use of Internet to make a public consultation.

CITIZEN´S PARTICIPATION SYSTEM FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE TRANSITION TEAM

The system registered 3,509 entries. All the topics were summarized into four main subjects: Human Resources, (20% participation) Academic Line, (30% participation) Research Projects (30% participation) Academic and Productive (10% participation) Sectors Linking. Others (10% participation) CITIZEN´S PARTICIPATION SYSTEM FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE TRANSITION TEAM

CITIZEN´S CONSULTATION FOR THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PLAN NACIONAL DE DESARROLLO ) The National Development Plan (PND) represents the main Federation’s planning instrument A system was organized to promote the participation of the citizens in a nation wide program The issues were assembled in the three most important government areas: Human and Social Development Growing with Quality, and Order and Respect.

CITIZEN´S CONSULTATION FOR THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Period: From February to April 2001 Characteristics, such as geograghy, gender, socioeconomic level, age, ethnic group, access to mass media, were considered to design the method to gather opinions considered the population Two different processes to gather opinions: mailed surveys and Internet:

CITIZEN´S CONSULTATION FOR THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Mailed Surveys Questionnaires were distributed in which people could explain one or more proposals regarding the 110 national issues. Sent by Mexican Post Office, or delivered in public agencies. Surveys by Internet The Internet page built for the PND : extended the posibilities of participation speeded the registration of opinions, and permited the participation of Mexicans that live abroad.

Results National Data Processing, Geography and Statistics Institute A National Center for Recollection of Proposals was created at the INEGI (National Data Processing, Geography and Statistics Institute ). There were received 153,367 proposals and approximately 1,000 of them came from Mexicans living abroad. By Internet 43,230 proposals were received and later classified by the INEGI. CITIZEN´S CONSULTATION FOR THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 26% of the proposals were made by less than 20 years old people; 34% by people between 21 and 40 years old; 22%, by people older than 40 years old. The remaining 18% did not specify its age.

THE FUTURE: WHAT´S DO BE ADRESSED The efforts already made should keep their impulse. Consultations must not be only circumstancial, but a permanent practice of the government. They are part of a policy making cycle. The citizen should be able to know how his/her participation is being used A public policy regarding public consultations should be discussed and elaborated at the national level.