Referendum Request to Senate / Infections Down in 25 states

Asks Senate to authorize referendum. President López Obrador will send a letter to the Senate to formally request a referendum on whether to put former presidents since 1988 on trial. “I am going to announce our decision to deliver a letter to the Senate for the consultation of the people of Mexico on the possible prosecution of former presidents,” he said and named Carlos Salinas, Ernesto Zedillo, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderón and Enrique Peña Nieto as the subjects of such a consultation. Joined today by his legal adviser, Julio Scherer Ibarra, the president read the whole 2,300-word document in which he lamented corruption during the “neoliberal” period. It was not clear if an ongoing public petition on the topic had received the necessary number of signatures to move forward, but the president said that the Mexican people are the only ones who can really make a decision in this regard.

Over 25 states on downward contagion track. Minister of Health Jorge Alcocer highlighted recent positive results in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “Over 25 states have been on downward epidemiological curves and no state is on a red traffic light,” Alcocer said during the weekly Pulse of Health report, where he highlighted the importance of abiding with all social distancing and hygiene protocols “so the downward trend continues.” Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell called on the people to avoid holding private parties or gatherings during the Independence Day celebrations that start today. “So that we can maintain this rate of decrease in infections, do not go out to public spaces. Not only for these two days, but in general,” López-Gatell said.

Mexico will have the vaccine first. Mexico is in the process of securing a COVID-19 vaccine faster than other countries, President López Obrador said without elaborating on the issue “because it is a matter that deserves discretion.” The president stated that Mexico is working on arrangements to be one of the first countries to receive the coveted vaccine. “We are already making agreements for that purpose and, most importantly, we already have the money needed to guarantee that this right is granted to all the people,” he said.  

Thanks the people for participating in raffle. President López Obrador thanked citizens for buying tickets for the so-called presidential plane raffle, just hours before the lottery is held. “Many thanks to the businessmen who helped by buying tickets and to labor leaders who helped.  Thank you very much to the people who bought tickets,” he said. After becoming one of the most discussed topics during López Obrador’s presidential campaign, the luxury plane was unsuccessfully offered for sale over the past 21 months. López Obrador noted that more than MX$2 billion (US$950 million) were raised after failing to sell every ticket and that this money will be used to buy medical equipment, an amount that will double when the plane is sold. “This is going to give us more than MX$4 billion,” he said.

Rules out balcony appearance. President López Obrador said he won’t appear on the National Palace balcony during the Independence celebration and parade. “I would like to ask everyone to keep a healthy distance, even if they are at home. It is a ceremony that can be seen on TV, it can be heard on the radio, we can participate from our homes,” he said. Traditionally, the president waves a national flag, tolls a bell and praises all national heroes from the balcony in a celebration known as El Grito. López Obrador said that tomorrow “is also a very peculiar parade” because not too many people will participate in the celebration scheduled for Mexico City’s Zocalo (central square). “I will not even be on the balcony for the parade. Instead, a small pavilion will be placed at the main entrance (of the palace),” he said.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish