The package of the 20 constitutional reform initiatives proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will be saved in the ‘freezer’, because the Chamber of Deputies decided to leave them off the agenda at the close of its last period of sessions.
This occurs because there are only two sessions left on the calendar of the Lower House, on Monday, April 29 and Tuesday, April 30. Besides, Nor are the deputies contemplating carrying out an extraordinary period in which these reforms could be approved.
“No extraordinary period is in the cards,” said the president of the Political Coordination Board of San Lázaro, Jorge Romero Herrera.
For his part, the coordinator of the National Action Party (PAN), Jorge Romero, confirmed that the Executive reforms “are no longer an issue” for the closing of this last period of sessions, because “there was no flexibility” from the president or Morena.
“At least for this 65th Legislature, yes, without a doubt (they are dead initiatives), and not with a mortuary desire. I say it with arithmetic, chronological clarity, it is impossible,” he said.
He explained that from the beginning, when the initiatives were received, “we said it, that Not only would the President’s reforms be approved, but they would be interspersed with the opposition’s initiativesbut there was no flexibility on their part.”
Regarding the validity of the presidential initiatives, he explained that “The initiatives and opinions are valid within their legislature, so their validity would end.”, because they didn’t even have a ruling. When there are opinions, they have a lifespan of 45 days or another 45, up to 90, if an extension is granted.”
It is worth remembering that the package of 20 reform initiatives was sent by the Federal Executive since last February 5, but for now it is practically impossible for them to advance.
What are the reform proposals that are going to the freezer?
These are the 20 constitutional reform initiatives that were proposed by President López Obrador, but that could be analyzed until the next legislature:
- Recognize indigenous peoples, communities and Afro-Mexican peoples as subjects of public law.
- Reaffirm the right to the elderly pension starting at age 65 and increasing the amount each year.
- Provide scholarships to students at all levels of schooling.
- Guarantee free general medical care for all Mexicans.
- That workers can own a home.
- Prohibit mistreatment of animals.
- Ban transgenic corn and the extraction of hydrocarbons through fracking in the national territory.
- Respect areas with water scarcity and authorize concessions for domestic use.
- Prohibit the marketing of vapers and chemical drugs.
- Do not allow the increase in the minimum wage to be less than annual inflation.
- The salaries of basic education teachers, police, national guards, soldiers, sailors, doctors and nurses cannot be less than the average of workers registered with social security.
- Reverse the pension reform that prevents IMSS and ISSSTE workers from retiring with 100 percent of their salary.
- Guarantee Mexicans the right to education and work.
- All farmers who wish to cultivate their lands will receive a fair and permanent wage.
- The 18 thousand kilometers of concessioned railway tracks that are currently used for cargo transportation will be used for passenger trains.
- The electoral reform initiative contemplates reducing expenses for campaigns and political parties.
- It is proposed that judges, magistrates and ministers of the Judiciary be elected directly by Mexicans.
- It is proposed that the National Guard be part of the Secretariat of National Defense with strict respect for human rights.
- Convert republican austerity into state policy.
- Eliminate all dependencies, onerous and elitist organizations that protect private businesses against the public interest.
