Deputies approve 4 more opinions on presidential initiatives

In a 9-hour session, the Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approved four additional opinions from the package of reform initiatives submitted by the Federal Executive on February 5th, with a majority vote.

Deputies approve these 4 AMLO reforms in committees

1. Reaffirm the right to a pension for people with disabilities

Regarding Welfare, the opinion was approved to ensure a pension for individuals with disabilities.

This aims to guarantee equal rights for people with disabilities, who will receive a universal pension.

According to the approved changes, Articles 4 and 27 of the Constitution concerning welfare will be amended to include a pension for individuals with permanent disabilities up to 65 years old. Beyond this age, they will be entitled to a pension for seniors.

It was also established that the State “will guarantee the rehabilitation” of individuals living with permanent disabilities and that “priority will be given to individuals under 18 years of age, under the terms set by law.”

The allocated resources may not be reduced in real terms compared to what was allocated in the previous fiscal year, as agreed.

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🦽 The Constitutional Affairs Committee amended Articles 4 and 27 of the Constitution, aiming to ensure that the Federation and federative entities guarantee a pension to permanently disabled individuals under 65 years of age. https://t.co/ullweIfOK0

— Chamber of Deputies (@Mx_Diputados) August 10, 2024

Photo: Government of Mexico

Additionally, the Sembrando Vida program has been elevated to constitutional status. Although the opposition voted in favor, it rejected the notion that the social programs should be included in the Constitution.

“Public policies, I insist, should not be subjected to legislation or changes to the Constitution of the United Mexican States. It is important to state this because the Sembrando Vida program has been extensively scrutinized, as previously mentioned by both the Superior Audit Office of the Federation and the United Nations itself,” emphasized Jorge Triana, a PAN deputy.

2. Recognize indigenous peoples and communities

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the opinion concerning this matter was approved, which acknowledges them as subjects of public law with legal personality and their own assets.

“This is a proclamation of the rights of indigenous peoples and communities, and of the State’s obligations regarding those rights, which fundamentally involve respecting and recognizing their organization and norms for living in the historical context of each community,” stated Juan Ramiro Robledo, president of the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

3. Guarantee comprehensive medical care free of charge to all Mexicans

Additionally, the opinion emphasizing comprehensive, universal, and free medical care was approved, which also guarantees access to medical studies, surgical interventions, and medications.

“Innovative strategies to enhance access and quality of healthcare, aimed at creating a more equitable and efficient system that centers on a future I believe in, a future we should all believe in, which is the full exercise of the human right to health for Mexicans,” remarked Salvador Caro Cabrera, a Morena deputy.

The opposition expressed hopes that the State would improve the conditions for medical care and the distribution of medicines to the public.

“It is currently more expensive for Mexicans to receive health care as they must pay private clinics and pharmacies for their medications,” noted Hector Saul Tellez, a PAN deputy.

4. Prohibit animal abuse

The final project focuses on Animal Protection and Care, ensuring their protection and proper treatment based on their nature and relationships with humans.

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Similarly, a reservation was made by the Green Party to prohibit the use of wild animals in profit-driven shows.

According to the schedule of the Constitutional Points Commission, discussions on the opinion regarding preventive detention will take place on August 13; the National Guard and strategic companies will be addressed on August 14; and the reform of the Judicial Branch will be presented on August 15. Additionally, initiatives concerning the elimination of autonomous bodies and electoral reform will be discussed.

AMLO’s 20 initiatives

The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, presented a package of constitutional reforms in February 2024, which constitutes his last set of initiatives before handing over the office on the upcoming October 1st.

The following are the 11 remaining reforms:

• Provide scholarships to students from low-income families at all educational levels.
• Prohibit transgenic corn in national territory, and ban hydrocarbon extraction through fracking. No concessions will be granted for open-pit mining.
• Protect scarce water areas and only grant concessions for domestic use.
• Ban the trade of vapes and chemical drugs such as fentanyl. Impose severe penalties for extortion and tax crimes committed by white-collar criminals through the use of so-called invoices.
• The minimum wage for full-time basic education teachers, national guards, soldiers, sailors, doctors, and nurses cannot be less than what IMSS-registered workers receive on average.
• Reverse the pension reforms approved during the administrations of Ernesto Zedillo and Felipe Calderon. Establish a seed fund of 64,619 million pesos to compensate workers affected by these reforms.
• Ensure that all capable farmers who can cultivate their lands receive a fair and permanent daily wage. Farmers and fishermen will continue to receive direct support from the Production for Well-being program. Free fertilizers will be provided to small producers in the country.
• The new initiative for electoral reform will propose reducing expenses for campaigns and political parties, cutting the number of councilors, avoiding “excessive electoral bureaucratic structures,” and eliminating plurinominal candidacies. The Congress of the Union will comprise 300 deputies instead of 500; the Senate will have 64 legislators instead of 128. Furthermore, electoral councilors and magistrates will be chosen by popular vote.
• Judges, magistrates, and ministers of the Judiciary will be elected directly by the people instead of being proposed.
• It is proposed that the National Guard, established to carry out security functions, become part of Sedena, with strict adherence to human rights.
• Eliminate all “onerous” and elitist agencies and organizations supposedly autonomous which were created during the neoliberal period.

In a 9-hour session, the Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approved four additional opinions from the reform package sent by the Federal Executive on February 5th.

Deputies Approve These 4 AMLO Reforms in Committees

1. Reaffirm the Right to a Pension for People with Disabilities

In the area of welfare, a significant opinion was approved to guarantee a pension for people with disabilities. This amendment aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive a universal pension.

According to the amendments to Articles 4 and 27 of the Constitution, a pension will be provided for those with permanent disabilities up to the age of 65. Upon reaching this age, they will transition to receiving a pension for senior citizens. The initiative also mandates that the State “will guarantee the rehabilitation” of individuals living with permanent disabilities, prioritizing those under 18.

Moreover, it has been stipulated that the allocation of resources for this pension cannot be reduced in real terms compared to the previous fiscal year.

🦽 The Constitutional Affairs Committee amended Articles 4 and 27 of the Constitution, ensuring that the Federation and federative entities guarantee a pension to permanently disabled persons under 65 years of age. https://t.co/ullweIfOK0

— Chamber of Deputies (@Mx_Diputados) August 10, 2024

Photo: Government of Mexico

Additionally, the Sembrando Vida program has been elevated to constitutional status. Despite the opposition voting in favor, it rejected the inclusion of social programs in the Constitution.

“Public policies should not be subject to legislation or changes to the Constitution of the United Mexican States. This is pivotal considering that the Sembrando Vida program has faced significant scrutiny,” stated Jorge Triana, a PAN deputy.

2. Recognize Indigenous Peoples and Communities

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, an important opinion was approved to recognize indigenous peoples as subjects of public law entitled to legal personality and their own assets.

“This is a declaration of the rights of indigenous peoples and communities, outlining the State’s obligations to respect, recognize their organization, and their norms, as established throughout history within each community,” remarked Juan Ramiro Robledo, president of the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

3. Guarantee Comprehensive Medical Care Free of Charge to All Mexicans

The opinion concerning the provision of comprehensive, universal, and free medical care was also approved. This initiative guarantees access to medical studies, surgical interventions, and necessary medications.

“We are pursuing innovative strategies to enhance accessibility and quality of healthcare, advocating for a system that is equitable and effective, focusing on the human right to health for all Mexicans,” expressed Salvador Caro Cabrera, a Morena deputy.

Many in the opposition expressed a desire to see the State improve the medical care conditions and medicine delivery systems for the population.

“Currently, healthcare costs Mexicans significantly because they must seek private clinics and pharmacies for medication,” noted Hector Saul Tellez, a PAN deputy.

4. Prohibit Animal Abuse

The final reform proposal focuses on Animal Protection and Care, ensuring their well-being and appropriate treatment in relation to their nature and human interactions.

Additionally, a provision from the Green Party was added to prevent the use of wild animals in profit-oriented shows.

According to the schedule set by the Constitutional Points Commission, discussions are planned for August 13 regarding preventive detention, August 14 concerning the National Guard and strategic companies, and August 15 focusing on the Judicial Branch reform. There are also initiatives regarding the dissolution of autonomous bodies and electoral reform.

AMLO’s 20 Initiatives

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador unveiled his package of constitutional reforms in February 2024, marking his final group of initiatives before transitioning offices on October 1st.

Among the 11 remaining reforms are:

• Providing scholarships for students from low-income families across all education levels.
• Banning transgenic corn and extraction of hydrocarbons via fracking. Stopping the concession of open-pit mining operations.
• Enforcing strict regulations in water-scarce areas and only permitting concessions for domestic use.
• Banning the trade of vapes and chemical drugs such as fentanyl. Implementing severe penalties for extortion and white-collar crimes involving fraudulent invoices.
• Establishing a minimum wage for educators, police officers, national guards, soldiers, sailors, doctors, and nurses, ensuring it is not less than the average wage of registered workers with the IMSS.
• Revising past pension reforms made during the administrations of Ernesto Zedillo and Felipe Calderon, creating a seed fund of 64,619 million pesos to compensate affected workers.
• Ensuring that all farmers with the capacity to cultivate their land receive a fair daily wage, in addition to sustained support through the Production for Well-being program.
• The new electoral reform proposal aims to reduce campaign expenses, the size of political parties, and the number of councilors, eliminating plurinominal candidacies. This would result in a Congress composed of 300 deputies instead of 500 and a Senate of 64 legislators instead of 128, with electoral councillors and magistrates elected by popular vote.
• Proposing that judges, magistrates, and ministers from the Judiciary be elected directly by the populace.
• Integrating the National Guard into Sedena, while strictly upholding human rights.
• Eliminating high-maintenance, “elitist” autonomous organizations created during the neoliberal era.