Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is ready for his next fight in Congress. This Monday, the head of the executive presented a comprehensive package of constitutional reforms with a view to his last year in government and the presidential election. The proposals must be accepted by the opposition and range from the creation of a new pension system to a revamp of the judiciary, including the abolition of autonomous bodies, changes to the electoral system and the permanent militarization of the Guard. National. These are some of the key points of the initiatives.
Pensions: a far-reaching reform and political profitability
López Obrador is proposing a revamp of the pension system so that workers receive their full salary when they retire, rather than half, as is the case with the current system, which dates back to 1997. Facing criticism over the feasibility of the initiative, the president has responded by saying that the government will shoulder some of the economic burden to ease the burden on the employer sector. The popularity of the proposal, which promises to shake up the political table ahead of June 2 elections, has prompted the opposition to announce its support despite its initial reluctance. The legislative debate will be dominated by “how”: Morena assures that it will be financed in part with the resources recovered when state organs disappear, while opponents claim that it would represent a democratic setback. The president also wants to make the provision of social programs constitutional: he proposes lowering the minimum age for receiving a pension for older adults from 68 to 65 years, granting pensions to people with disabilities and awarding scholarships to students from poor families .
A new conflict with the judiciary
Morena proposes that the ministers of the Supreme Court, as well as other judges and judges of the judiciary, be elected by popular vote. López Obrador has accused the Supreme Court of being a “conservative power” and “corrupt,” while opponents and experts warn that the change opens the door to unqualified profiles and to interference from interest groups or even organized crime. The draft reforms circulating include reducing the size of the full court from 11 to 9 ministers, shortening its term of office from 15 to 12 years and reducing the salaries of its members.
“The judiciary cannot continue to be a collection of institutions that serve political interests,” López Obrador said in his speech. On the verge of a new confrontation between the powers, the ruling bloc defends the need for a “clean sweep” in the administration of justice to ensure its independence. The opposition believes that it is the opposite, an attempt to weaken and punish judges after stopping several of this government's priority projects.
Minimum wage: a challenge for the opposition
Raising the minimum wage was one of the most popular measures of this six-year term. López Obrador has promoted changes to Article 123, which regulates labor, so that the increase in labor income can never be lower than the inflation rate. Basic salaries and labor rights in key sectors such as teachers, health workers, police and soldiers should also be guaranteed. The National Education Workers Union and other major labor organizations have publicly expressed support for the president's plan. The opposition continues to have doubts about the financial viability of the project, but risks that its opposition will take its toll at the polls.
Checks and balances: the disappearance of autonomous organs
López Obrador was a vocal critic of autonomous bodies, viewing them as a “golden bureaucracy.” The President calls for the abolition of these organizations, which are designed to be uninfluenced by the incumbent government and serve as a counterweight to government actions that harm the interests of citizens.
The debate begins with extremes: the president claims that “they are useless” and his critics see the danger of the executive branch once again concentrating power. After López Obrador announced his intention to strike down “everyone,” he clarified that the National Human Rights Commission was not affected by this initiative. The proposal has political and economic implications: it is being discussed whether these institutions are still useful for citizens and whether the funds they receive can benefit other areas, such as pensions.
Elections and consultations are being examined
After failing with the so-called Plan B, his first attempt at electoral reform, López Obrador announced that he would propose new changes that would affect the National Electoral Institute (INE) and the organization of elections. The president advocates reducing the number of representatives from 500 to 300 legislators and from 128 to 64 senators. He also said that funding for political parties and political campaigns would be cut on the grounds of resource conservation. The cut would include the creation of a new electoral arbitrator with a more limited structure who would take over the functions carried out by local representatives. It is proposed that electoral councils be elected by direct vote of citizens. The aim is also to lift barriers to referendums, which currently require a binding turnout of 40% of voters and, with the reform, only require 30%. The opposition has insisted that “the INE will not be affected” and expects it will not support this proposal.
A military style National Guard
The National Guard was this administration's most ambitious commitment to combating insecurity. López Obrador wants the company to be permanently, not temporarily, dependent on the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena). The transition to a civilian command was one of the conditions imposed by the opposition at the start of the six-year term to support its creation. Despite the questions about militarization and the granting of concessions to the army in the civilian sector, the president assures that the protection of the Sedena from violence is fundamental and that the Guard will not be infiltrated by criminals. The proposal reignites the debate about this government's security policy and the impact of crime, one of the population's greatest concerns.
A controversial turn against fentanyl
The fentanyl crisis has been one of the most sensitive issues in bilateral relations with the United States. Facing pressure from Washington, López Obrador has denied that fentanyl is manufactured in Mexico, asserting that the country is only a transit area for the drug. The political turmoil has also affected the health sector: A national addiction survey has not been conducted in years and the government also denied that use of the substance has increased recently south of the border. The president is proposing to legislate the use of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, which has been criticized for criminalizing users and violating their right to health and life-saving treatments and medications. The prohibitionist turn also raises doubts about its effectiveness as a measure in the so-called war on drugs.
Rigor
López Obrador has made austerity the hallmark of his administration and defended the idea that no official should earn more than the president. Under the motto “There can be no rich government and no poor people,” the President advocates enshrining this principle in the constitution and as “state policy.” The opposition claims that extreme austerity measures have been counterproductive for various government agencies and have made their tasks more difficult. The government insists that if it tightens its belt, it can use those funds for pensions and the social programs it promotes.
A new attempt to reform the electrical industry
Last week, the Supreme Court invalidated a reform by López Obrador that aimed to give the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) dominance in the electricity sector. The President announced that he would insist on this project and make adjustments to provide greater certainty to private sector actors. The companies claim that the Electrical Industry Act gives the CFE an unfair advantage and limits private participation in the industry. It has also caused trade tensions with the United States and Canada, which claim it violates the USMCA. The president considers that the setback occurred during the administration of his predecessor Enrique Peña Nieto and will seek to return to the system in which the role of the state predominated. “The CFE will be a public and strategic company,” he said.
The president's most ambitious bet
This is the most ambitious reform package that López Obrador has presented. He is doing so in his final year in power, convinced that his political legacy and the foundations of the next government are at stake. The series of initiatives also comes a month before the start of the presidential campaign, in the final stages that will determine his or her successor. The opposition is forced to adapt to the pace set by the president, accusing that this is the last attempt by Los Pinos to interfere in the election, while Morena is eager to show that his rivals represent an obstacle to the transformation that the country needs. The future of the highly anticipated proposals is uncertain and will be decided in the legislature, but their impact will extend beyond both chambers.
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