Monday, November 7, 2011

Senate iniatiative to regulate state debt

The PRD presented an initiative in the Mexican senate to regulate the debt of Mexico's state - essentially, to make debt contraction more transparent and avoid bankruptcy in public finances.

The measure is very likely inspired by the case of Coahuila, but many other states, the vast majority PRI led, are also in danger of financial collapse after having contracted far too much debt on their own.

From what I recall, this is essentially what many states in Brazil did as well as part of a process of de-centralization of power - though they ended up heavily indebted in the process, and eventually had to strike a deal with the federal government. If any reader has a good summary / recommended read about this period in Brazil, I'd appreciate a tip.

PRD's internal election, almost final chapter

PRD held what was to be the final leg of its internal elections Sunday.

However, it only succeeded in doing so in Veracruz, Zacatecas, and Mexico City - elections were cancelled in Oaxaca and Chiapas. As it were, René Bejarano, almost comically trying to look like a mafioso, called for a political trial of Governor Juan Sabines in Chiapas for allegedly interfering in the elections.

All in all 8, eight coincilors were elected from Veracruz, 10 from Zacatecas, and 46 from the PRD bastion Mexico City. Still, around 40 are yet to be elected from Oaxaca and Chiapas, as well as Michoacán, where the gubernatorial election had already ensured that the party election would be postponed.

Hopefully for the PRD, Mexico's electoral tribunal, which mandated the election following a complaint from a PRD senator, will accept that the party has completed, more or less, the process - the deadline was Nov. 15, and I strongly doubt the party is capable of arranging elections for a third time in Oaxaca and Chiapas already by next weekend.

Abortion, automatic excommunication

Archbishop Norberto Rivera, head of the Mexican church informs the people that any woman who has an abortion -any abortion, for any reason - will be automatically excommunicated from the Catholic church, as will anyone assisting her.

It takes quite of bit of chutzpah to take on the role of god's enforcer, especially when you have through the years consistently protected pedophiles and pederasts in the church - yet Rivera isn't exactly known for his temerity nor compassion for his flock. Now he takes it upon himself to decide who goes to hell, and who does not.

At least Víctor Sánchez Espinosa, archbishop of Puebla, is somewhat more reasonable, calling for women who have an abortion, either by their free will forced by third parties, not to be thrown in jail.