Ah, Mexico City, where the political drama is more intense than any telenovela, and you can always count on the Chamber of Deputies to deliver more plot twists than an M. Night Shyamalan movie! Tonight didn’t disappoint, as the Constitutional Points Commission approved a rather controversial opinion — you know, just to make sure nobody has the audacity to challenge their “unique genius” when reforming the Political Constitution.
With 30 votes in favor and 11 against, it appears that the supporters of the ruling party are on a mission to fortify their constitutional supremacy over Congress. The way they’re rushing this through is almost like they’re trying to beat the clock in a cooking show — “Let’s get this reform ticked off the list before the Supreme Court decides to break out their gavel and spoil the whole party!”
Morena and their allies seem to believe that an amendment to the Constitution can act like a magical safety net. Unfortunately for them, the opposition isn’t shy about voicing their concerns. The urgency behind this vote is certainly eyebrow-raising; Rubén Moreira of the PRI asked the million-dollar question: “Is there an extraordinary reason we’re rushing this through, or are we just trying to play tag with the Supreme Court?” It’s like trying to outrun your consequences — spoiler alert, it usually doesn’t end well!
Now, let’s pause for a moment to appreciate the verbal gymnastics being performed: Hugo Eric Flores from Morena, who seems to think that the real emergency here is the legitimacy of their legislative process — rather convenient when you realize he’s eager to shield it from judicial scrutiny. In a surprise twist, he accuses the opposition of defending the ministers of the Supreme Court like they’re some sort of endangered species. “The gentlemen do not have the power to legislate,” he declared, which really sounds like a case of good luck explaining that to your constituents.
Then there’s Noemí Luna from PAN, throwing shade like she’s in a solar eclipse — she claims that the reforms are essentially a revenge plot and accuses Morena’s cherry-picked majority of having less legitimacy than a three-dollar bill. She’s questioning whether they’ve turned Congress into a privatization machine worthy of Salinas himself. Strong words! This isn’t just a debate; it’s practically a political roast!
And as if you thought it couldn’t get any spicier, you have Fabio Castellanos attempting to threaten the opposition with legal action for “obstructing” the election of judges. Because who doesn’t love a good dictatorial reference? Rubén Moreira wasn’t having it, likening Castellanos’ threats to those of the infamous dictator Victoriano Huerta. We should probably avoid calling him “your Excellency” for the foreseeable future!
With statements flying and tensions running high, you know this isn’t just politics — it’s a full-contact sport! So as the drama unfolds in San Lázaro Palace, you might want to grab some popcorn. Just remember, in the world of Mexican politics, it’s not just about who wins or loses, but about how many times you can make your opponents squirm before the final bell rings.
So, dear reader, stay tuned and keep your ears to the ground because this tale of constitutional chess is far from over!
The Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approved tonight with an overwhelming majority of 30 votes in favor and just eleven against the pivotal measure that establishes the inadmissibility of any challenges against reforms to the Political Constitution. This significant development underscores the ruling party’s determination to fortify its legislative agenda.
The project regarding “constitutional supremacy” of Congress over the Judiciary has been handed over to the Board of Directors at San Lázaro Palace. The leadership of the ruling party, Morena, alongside its allies, is pushing for a swift discussion and voting on this matter in a plenary session scheduled for this Tuesday, aiming for a “fast-track” approval process that reflects their urgency.
Endorsed by the Morenoist majority and their allies, the opinion encompasses substantial modifications and additions to articles 105 and 107 of the constitutional provisions. These changes are designed to effectively “shield” the transformative reforms of the so-called Fourth Transformation from potential constitutionality actions, constitutional controversies, and amparo trials, thereby limiting judicial intervention.
In his transitory articles, the decree stipulates the retroactive application of the reform, a strategic move intended to preclude challenges to the anticipated changes within the Judicial Branch, which the Supreme Court is set to address this week. This retroactive measure is critical as it seeks to effectively close off legal avenues before any potential rulings are handed down.
The parliamentary opposition groups questioned the urgency displayed by the official bloc in their efforts to swiftly push through this reform, suggesting it is a tactical maneuver to outpace the Supreme Court’s deliberations. The opposition is particularly concerned about the implications of the Supreme Court potentially declaring the partial invalidity of judges elected by popular vote.
“There is no extraordinary reason to be in this Or what is it, beating the Court to the way? It is extraordinary, but that does not exist; extraordinary is another type of thing, that we have a national emergency, that we have a natural disaster,” declared Rubén Moreira, coordinator of the PRI parliamentary group, emphasizing his skepticism towards the perceived urgency of the legislative push.
In response, Morenoist Hugo Eric Flores acknowledged the ruling party’s insistence on passing the “constitutional supremacy” reform. This recognition came in light of Minister Juan Luis González Alcántara’s presentation of a draft ruling that threatens to declare the judicial reform partially unconstitutional, amplifying the stakes for the party.
“Today Minister González Alcántara Carrancá already circulated a project, by the way, highly questioned from a constitutional point of view and they still come to us to ask about its urgency,” Flores pointed out, criticizing the opposition for their defense of the ministers who challenge the legislative authority.
The parliamentary leader of PAN, Noemí Luna, argued vehemently that the underlying motivation of the reform is rooted in revenge, asserting that it exemplifies the authoritarian essence of Morena. She questioned the legitimacy of their current majority in Congress, suggesting that their claim to represent the people’s will is notably exaggerated.
“They say with the legitimacy of the people, when it was 25 percent of the people who voted for the ruling party,” Luna asserted, challenging the very notion of democratic legitimacy posited by Morena. “Neither Salinas nor all of neoliberalism together had dared to privatize the people as they intend to do at this moment,” she declared passionately.
During the heated discussion, Fernando Torres, also a PAN member, criticized the rapid approval of numerous constitutional reforms in a mere eight weeks since the current legislature began, labeling them as “obscene touches” on the Constitution, a term that underscores his disdain for the approach taken by the ruling party.
“We have practically two months, where every week what we can call a series of obscene touches on the Constitution are made,” Torres expressed, underscoring his concern regarding the implications of such reforms on the democratic framework.
In a confrontational moment, Morenoist Fabio Castellanos accused the opposition of obstructing the election of judges and threatened to take legal action against them, a move that ignited protests from Rubén Moreira, who likened Castellanos’ threats to the oppressive tactics employed by the dictator Victoriano Huerta against senators during turbulent times in Mexico’s history.
