Lopez Obrador said on Friday that he signed the loan letters with his name and his title, and authorities have determined this was inappropriate.

Both the federal authorities and the INE have decided this was a personal promotion of the presidential image, which was a violation of the Mexican Constitution. The stimulus loans were part of the government's measures to support the country's businesses during the pandemic.

They asked the contents of the letters to be changed for the loan recipients, omitting the president's name entirely. They also said to make the terms clearer, so they understand the funds come solely from the federal authorities.


Violation of Mexico's Constitution

Mexican national elections institute said that the INE issued a precautionary measure to put a halt to the delivery and dissemination of the stimulus letters because they "violate Article 134 of the Constitution that prohibits the personalized promotion of public servants."

"It was a letter explaining what [the loans were for] and why we have confidence in them," the president said.

Lopez Obrador then signed the letter. He acknowledged this was disapproved of by the electoral institute because of "political advertising," so he let them remove his name from the loan approval letters. He added, "I will not argue with them, rest assured."

Newly-appointed Chiapas mayor Rosa Irene Urbina has also been criticized for promoting herself on municipal water bills sent to residents. She was called out after an investigation of the INE looking into other government officials who have committed the same violation.

The back of the bill featured a photo of the mayor herself, with a lengthy description of her term in the local government office. Given the coronavirus emergency, this was a serious offense.

Mainly, these acts of political promotion violate Article 134 of the Mexican Constitution.

It says that forms of government communication, such as the delivery of loan receipts and the distribution of water bills, may "not include names, images voices or symbols that personally promote any public servant." It adds that these must be reserved solely for informational purposes.


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Measures to Lift the Mexican Economy

The loans are delivered and distributed for small businesses who are struggling with the current state of the economy. The letters signed with Lopez Obrador's name have already been given to around 40,000 business owners, with each loan amounting to 25,000 pesos.

So far, the federal government has approved 700,000 of these loans for businesses to continue giving salaries to their employees amid the pandemic. Even the private sector has intervened with the economic crisis, with some organizations collaborating to fund loan programs for failing businesses.

A reminder was given in caution to the political leaders in Mexico by Sofía Martínez De Castro Leon of the Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute. She said that change in priorities from the health emergency "cannot translate into personalized promotion under the guise of support for those who need it."