Mayolo López / Reform Agency
Wednesday, February 08, 2023 | 19:58
Mexico City.- A group of 84 civil organizations warned that the “greatest democratic regression” is in the process of being perpetrated if “Plan B” promoted by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is consummated in the Senate.
In a statement, the groups regretted that the Senate’s Political Coordination Board (Jucopo) canceled, at the last moment, an appointment in which they would expose their rejection of the electoral package known as “Plan B.”
Consulted in this regard, the president of Jucopo, Ricardo Monreal, explained that the Senate awaits these groups next Friday.
“I asked my private secretary to tell them that we are waiting for them on Friday: today and tomorrow we have a session and there would be no time. We are open. We have not approved anything and there is no risk of albazo,” he said in an interview.
The groups established that “a few hours after that meeting was held -normal and routine in any democracy- it was canceled, citing the lack of agreement and internal complications between various parliamentary factions that control the simple majority of the Senate.”
“We want to make public opinion aware of this new fact that once again demonstrates the vertical and unconsulted nature of these electoral changes. The presumption of unconstitutionality of ‘Plan B’ for not respecting the legislative process, as well as for its destructive content, is add the closure and the lack of arguments that is at the bottom of that decision. The opacity is manifest and damages the legitimacy of the legislative process”.
Among other groups, the statement Mexicans against Corruption and Impunity was signed by Transparencia Mexicana, UNE, Unidos and the Institute of Studies for Democratic Transition.
Monreal explained that it is probable that “Plan B” will be aired in plenary next week, after the ruling commissions approve the respective minutes.
“I believe that at any time, tomorrow or Friday, they call and the plenary session will be in session next week. Even civil organizations are asking for it and people from other institutions asked me for an audience. We do not act with tricks,” he said.
Separately, PAN senator Damián Zepeda warned that damage to the electoral referee can no longer be avoided.
“It is no longer possible to prevent 80 percent of INE officials from being fired because it has already been approved in the deputies and the Senate, but as soon as it is published, we are going to challenge it.”
