Mexico’s law on the professional career service in the federal administration fills posts through open competition on merit. Its Article 34 allows an exception. In exceptional situations, a person can be appointed temporarily, without the recruitment procedure, under the responsibility of the head of the agency.
According to figures of the Ministry of Public Administration compiled in a UNAM journal, federal agencies made 4,451 appointments under Article 34 in 2019 and held 2,449 open competitions. In 2018, the figures were 2,665 appointments and 5,714 competitions.