AMLO’s electrical reform is rejected by the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico

The constitutional reform of the electricity sector promoted by the president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) was rejected this Sunday by the Chamber of Deputies of Mexicoafter more than 12 hours of discussion in plenary, as two thirds of the necessary votes were not reached.

The controversial energy reform, which sought to give control of the energy sector to the state company Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and limit private participation in electricity generation to 46% to favor the CFEaccused of having some polluting and obsolete plants, obtained 275 votes in favor, 223 against and 0 abstentionshence it did not reach two-thirds of the House.

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“With this reform, electricity would stop being a simple commodity and become a public service for Mexicans”said deputy Moisés Ignacio Mier Velazco, coordinator of the ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena), during the debate.

The opposition parties to the official Brunette they voted as a block and the constitutional reform could not go ahead, which It represents a political setback for López Obrador as this initiative is included among the main objectives of his government.

MIXED POSTURES

In the long debate, between insults, recesses, slogans and the opposition’s call to vote against the reform, the legislators established their positions regarding the modification of articles 4, 25, 27 and 28 of the Constitution.

Gerardo Fernandez Noronadeputy coordinator of the Labor Party, an ally of Morena, argued that the reform would pay “to national sovereignty in electrical matters” and affirmed that it was false that with it private investment would be scared away.

He added that nine of the 12 points proposed by the opposition in its counterproposal were included in the initiative.

The president of Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Alejandro Moreno, said that they would not allow “an act of treason against the country” to be carried out and criticized that with the reform the rates would increase by more than 27%.

He also said that the non-approval of the reform It will be Morena’s “biggest defeat”.

When presenting the position of the PAN on the platform, deputy Jorge Romero Herrera emphasized that they do not agree that there is “hyper-empowerment” of the CFE since they consider that competition from the public and private sectors is necessary.

He assured that they did not protect the interests of transnational companies and recalled that his proposal includes the creation of a National Commission of Electricity Networks and establishing low rates for those who need it most.

Jorge Álvarez Máynez, coordinator of MC, pointed out that they are against the reform “because it harms Mexico.”

At the same time, Luis Ángel Espinosa Cházaro, from the PRD, pointed out that the ruling does not guarantee low energy prices.

ARMORED GOVERNMENT

The controversial constitutional reform in the electricity sector sought to be approved after the approval last Monday of the Constitutional Points and Energy commissions of the Chamber of Deputies.

However, for this to happen Two thirds of the chambers were required and Morena did not have a qualified majority, so it needed to agree with the opposition, however, from the beginning the opponents expressed their outright rejection of the reform.

Prior to the plenary vote President López Obrador affirmed that his government was “shielded against treason.”

“I already said it in my report on Tuesday: whatever happens, we are already armored against betrayal. Tomorrow I will explain it again, ”the president wrote this Sunday on his official Twitter account while the legislators continued with the discussion of the initiative.

WHAT THE REFORM PROPOSED

The constitutional reform initiative sought to annul the energy model that was designed in 2013 because, according to the current government, with independent producers, self-supply and auctions, 62% of generators are private and the remaining 38% of electricity is generated by the Federal Commission of Electricity (CFE).

However, the opposition argued that the initiative would lead to an increase in polluting gas emissions and higher electricity prices in the country, so its approval was not feasible.

Meanwhile, the national and foreign private sector expressed their concern on several occasions, arguing that the law harmed competition and would scare away foreign investment in the country.

after the voteJorge Alvarez Maynezcoordinator of Movimiento Ciudadano celebrated the ruling. “Today Mexico won, today it became a homeland to protect the planet and the future of our daughters and sons. The Toxic Electrical Reform of Morena did not pass”He noted on his Twitter account.

In the same social network, Alejandro Moreno of the PRI expressed his gratitude for the support of the citizens at this important moment for Mexico.

“We show that the defense of our country will always be the great cause that unites us. This is the first of many victories that we will build together!” said.

Meanwhile, the deputy Margarita Zavala of the PAN tweeted: “There was no lack of anyone from the PAN or the PRI, neither the PRD nor the MC, all voted against, a total of 223: There is no qualified majority, there is Congress, there is opposition.”

On the other hand, Mario Delgado, president of Morena, affirmed that “the betrayal of the PRI PAN MC and PRD is consummated. The people of Mexico will know how to claim them and collect them at the first opportunity. See you in June. There is a lot of people for so few traitors. Long live Mexico and its energy sovereignty!”

Source: Elcomercio

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