INE orders PAN to stop advertising on tortillas

The National Electoral Institute (INE) has ordered the conservative National Action Party (PAN) to stop advertising their presidential candidate, Ricardo Anaya of the “For Mexico to the Front” coalition, in tortilla wrapping paper as this is a non-recyclable material .

According to electoral laws, materials used in campaign advertisements should be made of textile fibers – which tortilla wrapping paper has not.

The case was submitted to the INE by the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), arguing the material did not comply with the laws and that it was being used to pressure voters , given that the following can be read in the wrapping paper: “Would you like $1,500 [Mexican] pesos each month? The change is Anaya for President!” With the word “vote” above the logos of all the parties in the coalition.

However, this isn't the first time a political party uses tortilla wrapping paper for advertising purposes. In Mexico's previous election, the PRI used a similar tactic to encourage voters to support the then-presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto .

INE orders PAN to stop advertising on tortillas

(Photo: Horacio Zamora/EL UNIVERSAL)

The INE also instructed the printing company, Ecosistema Creativo SAPI S.A. de C.V., to stop distributing any material still left in their warehouses, recall the product, and inform tortilla stores they can no longer use this wrapping paper.

“The PAN is ordered to suspend the distribution of tortilla wrapping paper ,” reads the tweet of the INE, followed by the official ruling.

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