Pasta de Conchos/AIFA’s Profits

Recovery of Pasta de Conchos victims begins. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador assured that rescuing efforts in Pasta de Conchos continues. “The company responsible for rescuing the miners from Pasta de Conchos is progressing well. We are going to ask the Department of Labor for a complete report. We will fulfill our promise to rescue the bodies.”

In February 2006, an explosion at Pasta de Conchos mine 8 trapped 65 of the 73 miners working at the site. The accident was due to the accumulation of methane gas and was worsened by the unsafe conditions of the mine. López Obrador has signed a pact to begin an integrated plan to excavate the Pasta de Conchos mine and recover the remains of the miners who were buried in the accident. According to the president, the recovery plan is expected to conclude in August 2024 when his mandate ends, reported MBN.

AIFA. President López Obrador acknowledged that Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Ángeles (AIFA) had a rough start, but assured that it will begin to make profits in December. “According to an economic report  it is estimated that the airport will be self-sufficient and will therefore cease to be a public expense.”

Mexico City’s newest airport, has transported more passengers than initially forecasted. The airport has catered to over 1 million passengers since its opening in March 2022. In addition, it is estimated that the airport will transport 1.3 million passengers in its first year of operation (March 2022 to March 2023). 

Isidoro Pastor Román, General Director at AIFA indicated that the  airport will begin generating profits after two years of operations, approximately between December 2023 and March 2024. “Demand for passenger and cargo aviation is already reaching pre-pandemic levels and the industry is growing annually between 9-10 percent. There is not enough infrastructure in the Valley of Mexico to meet this growing demand, so we are sure that additional clients will come to AIFA," Pastor told MBN.

Electoral reform. The president said since there are appeals against the electoral reform this shows just how democratic the country is.  "The possibility of resorting to the Judiciary system shows that we have a democratic country. A true rule of law, not like in the past."

Mexicans have been called to protest against the President's Plan B on February 26. The first protest was on Nov. 13, 2022 where thousands of people gathered in cities across the country and Mexican embassies around the world to defend Mexico’s democratic institution. 

The electoral reform proposes to change 18 articles and insert seven transitional ones. The reform failed to reach a qualified majority with 269 votes in favor, 225 against and one abstention. Political opponents say the reform was rejected for having regressive fundamentals since it proposed to eliminate the most important democratic institution in the country. However, the president has accused these political parties of rejecting it because they want to maintain a high budget for their political parties. 

Since the electoral reform was rejected, the president announced his Plan B, which proposes an amendment to the electoral law that does not require the approval of two-thirds of Congress. This week, the Senate approved the reform with 72 votes in favor and 50 against. The reform still needs to be enacted by President Lopez Obrador. In addition, opponents said they would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Moreover, Mexicans have been called to protest against the President's Plan B on February 26.