Electoral Reform / Meeting With US Officials

“Plan B” for electoral reform. Even though the Chamber of Deputies gave its approval to the proposal, senators highlighted there were some unconstitutional aspects to the president’s electoral plan. After that, President López Obrador confirmed the changes to “Plan B” of the electoral reform will be addressed. 

Ignacio Mier, Coordinator, MORENA admitted that the endorsed reform proposal has some unconstitutional paragraphs. The coordinator said he will request senators to modify the proposal that states political parties can maintain their registry even without achieving 3 percent of the votes in a federal election, which directly favors PT and PVEM. Moreover, he assured that he will talk to Ricardo Monreal, MORENA Coordinator in the Senate, regarding the necessary amendments.

Adán Augusto López, Minister of the Interior, detailed that the corresponding changes will be made and that the proposal will go back to the Chamber of Deputies. 

Meeting with US officials. López Obrador confirmed he will meet with US public officials on Dec. 12 to celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the US. Moreover, he announced that the morning conference will be canceled that day, due to the Virgen de Guadalupe celebrations.  

The US-Mexico bilateral relationship started on Dec. 12, 1822. Currently, the US is Mexico’s main trading partner, with a shared border of more than 3,000km which is crossed by more than 1 million people per day. 

Amnesty Law. President López Obrador announced that his government will review the Amnesty Law to ensure that eligible prisoners can be released faster. During the morning conference, López Obrador celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to liberate the three men from Tabasco that starred in the documentary Duda Razonable (Reasonable Doubt). Moreover, he mentioned he is keeping an eye on Israel Vallarta’s case, as well. 

As of Nov. 21, the government has achieved 3,458 early releases and 190 amnesties, resulting in 3,648 people leaving prison. 

Sale of Banamex. President López Obrador expects the sale of Banamex to be completed in January 2023. He highlighted the sale is in process and that there are two interested companies. Moreover, he mentioned that one of the conditions for the sale is that the purchasing company doesn’t fire Banamex’s current staff. 

Citigroup, one of the largest banking groups in the US, announced that it will close its retail banking and small and medium-sized business operations in Mexico, although it will continue to operate in the country with a local license.