SCJN Approves Mandate Referendum/Amnesty Law

Christmas celebrations. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on Mexicans to enjoy their holidays and spend a Christmas “of happiness, harmony, reconciliation and love with all our loved ones.” Despite other countries’ decisions to enter lockdowns during the holidays, Mexico is preparing to celebrate Christmas without restrictive measures.

"Time goes by and we can meet again with those people we have been separated from for a long time due to different circumstances and in these times we can reconcile. That is what I wish, a lot of love, a lot of happiness. We must not lose our hope to live and come through,” said López Obrador.

52,000 unidentified bodies. There are around 52,000 unidentified bodies in mass graves and with Mexico’s forensics services, said Alejandro Encinas, Deputy Minister of Human Rights. He added that in the 2020 INEGI census, there were 9,400 unidentified bodies in cold stores across the country.

Amnesty Law: 44 people released. Forty-four people have been released following the implementation of the Amnesty Law, with 795 cases pending, of which 642 are women and 153 men, said Encinas. The cases include crimes against public health and crimes that adhere to the law of victims and other abuses in indigenous communities.

In total, there have been 1,798 requests for amnesty, with a ruling passed on 1,003 cases, of which only 103 were considered appropriate, said López Obrador.

AMLO backs Veracruz governor after José Manuel del Río detention. The federal government continues to support Veracruz Gov. Cuitláhuac García after the detention of José Manuel del Río, a Movimiento Ciudadano politician who is accused of murdering René Tovar, a candidate from the same party for the Veracruz mayoralty of Cazones de Herrer. Tovar was murdered 36 hours before the last election.

"For the first time in a long time, there is an honest, upright governor who is incapable of carrying out an injustice against anyone. I have all the confidence in him and I hope that in this case, the authorities analyze the matter. I hope that the facts are clarified and it is resolved, that justice is done. I do not disqualify the governor, I have confidence in him," said López Obrador.

AMLO applauds Court’s decision to continue mandate revocation process. López Obrador applauded the decision by the National Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) to continue the mandate revocation process, which the National Electoral Institute (INE) had delayed for budgetary reasons. "I liked (SCJN’s decision) very much. We have to celebrate the news, which I consider good. I liked the court's resolution to move forward with the process of the mandate revocation. Two Supreme Court ministers have exhorted INE to continue with the process. That is how things are, it was a very good decision because this is democracy. Democracy should not be obstructed and the Constitution should not be violated. It is about both things,” said López Obrador.

The Revocation of Mandate is a referendum in the Mexican political system that gives Mexican citizens the opportunity to revoke the mandate of elected officials. López Obrador has called for the referendum to be held in early April. INE said earlier this week it would suspend the referendum because of a lack of funds.