Electricity Reform Could Be Modified/AMLO to Attend UN Meeting

Senators could change the electricity reform. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that if senators respect the essence of the electricity reform, they could propose and make changes to it. “Yes, I would accept changes to the reform as long as the essence of the initiative is maintained. The essence is that the electricity industry is a strategic industry that must be owned by the nation and by all Mexicans. If they respect that, I am open to changes.”

The reform aims to provide CFE a guaranteed 56 percent market share of electricity generation when it currently has a 38 percent share. In addition, the National Center for Energy Control (CENACE), which is in charge of electricity distribution, would become part of CFE's organic structure. These decisions are generating controversy in the private sector as experts say that the reform does not respect USMCA and other international agreements.

AMLO: There was no revenge against Rosario Robles. López Obrador assured that he did not intervene in the judge's decision that Former Minister of Social Development Rosario Robles remain in jail. In addition, he recalled that the decision was made by exclusive votes of the Judiciary. “It is a decision of the judges; it depends on them. It is not up to the Executive; we did not participate in that decision. Likewise, there is no revenge. We would not do it because it is immoral, unworthy and takes away our moral authority.”

The judge of the Federal Justice Control Center of the South Criminal Center of Mexico City, Ganther Alejandro Villar Ceballos, ruled that Robles is a flight risk and would remain in jail for the duration of her criminal trial. Robles is accused of having participated in the "Master Scam," a scheme in which money destined for social programs was diverted to shell companies. Authorities estimate that around US$263 million of public resources were diverted.

Case of the former director of PEMEX. López Obrador said authorities are taking a long time to investigate and deliver a verdict in the case of former PEMEX Director Emilio Lozoya. However, López Obrador said that he trusts Attorney General Alejandro Gertz to solve the case and not provide impunity. “Sometimes justice takes time. They are taking a long time and it should not be this way. However, I understand that there are many statements to take. I trust Gertz and, therefore, do not discuss these matters with him or with the President of the Court. Our relationships are based on respect for our competences.”

In 2017, a news report claimed that the Odebrecht company, accused of money laundering and paying bribes to politicians and officials, had paid more than US$10 million to Lozoya to win a US$115 million tender to remodel a refinery belonging to PEMEX. Lozoya was detained in Spain in 2020 and five months later he was extradited. Lozoya is accused of operating with resources of illicit origin, criminal association and bribery. Since he was charged, Loyoza claims that there is no evidence to show that he received bribes.

AMLO to attend UN meeting. López Obrador announced that on Nov. 8 he will travel to New York together with Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to attend a UN meeting and deliver a speech on corruption and how inequality occurs. “We are preparing for the meeting, in which Mexico will assume the presidency of the Security Council. During the meeting, I will talk about a problem that exists all over the world: corruption. Corruption is a plague that produces inequality. This has been going on for years and that is why we must address it together."

Mexico has been elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council during the 2021-2022 biennium. The Security Council is made up of 15 member countries, of which China, the US, France, the United Kingdom and Russia are permanent members. The rest of the members rotate through two-year terms. Mexico has participated in the Council on four occasions: in 1946, 1980-1981, 2002-2003 and 2009-2010. At the international level, the country has been characterized by its firm defense of human rights and its votes against controversial issues, such as the invasion of Iraq, the Soviet armed interference in Afghanistan and actions taken by Israel.