Dialogue to achieve qualified majority in the Senate

MEXICO CITY (El Universal).— Morena and its allies have secured 99.9% of the three votes they need in the Senate of the Republic to achieve a qualified majority, said yesterday the coordinator of the Green Party in the Upper House, Manuel Velasco Coello.

Speaking to the media after receiving his credentials as a member of the new legislature in the Senate, the former governor of Chiapas reported that in recent weeks a dialogue has been established with several opposition senators to join Morena, or at least support with votes the reforms that it is promoting.

“It has been under construction, (…) it is their decision, but we have been in dialogue with everyone and there is a very broad possibility that work will be done on it. Precisely in the Senate of the Republic there must always be open dialogue with everyone and there has been dialogue with senators from the opposition,” he revealed.

Manuel Velasco did not want to reveal any names and said that they would be informed in due time, both during the integration of the benches and in the votes that will take place in the Senate.

“When the time comes to integrate the benches, there will be a sign that we are moving forward, and when it comes to voting, you will be duly informed,” he said. However, he acknowledged that “surely nothing is (because) in this life you should never take for granted what is assumed, but I am telling you that we are moving forward, we are dialoguing with everyone, we are going to defend the project that Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum proposed.”

Yesterday, on social media X, user José Díaz (@JJDiazMachuca) wrote: “AMLO government discovers embezzlement of $500 million by Manuel Velasco, an ally of the 4T. Manuel Velasco assures that Morena already has the three legislators it needs for a qualified majority in the Senate. Did @VelascoM_ perhaps buy them with what @lopezobrador_ stole and covered up?”

He then continues: “In audits carried out in 2019 and 2020, the SAT discovered simulated operations of 6 shell companies with the Government of Chiapas, when the governor of that state was Velasco, current senator of the Green Party. Despite the discovery of these acts of corruption, Morena formalized an alliance with the Green Party this year and now depends on that party to maintain the majority in Congress. Velasco himself reaffirmed last Sunday – election day – his willingness to support López Obrador’s political project from the Legislature. Will forgiveness be negotiated for the deviations of his ally’s government?”