Calderón signs thinned-out political reform

Calderón's political reform - it is referred to as the political reform, as it was originally a relatively broad-reaching and comprehensive proposal when it was launched in 2009, and is the only major such during his sexenio - was signed by the president last week. It includes 8 components:

* Citizen initiatives (to be introduced into Congress)
* Independent candidacies (but not for president)
* Popular consultations allowed (referenda)
* "Preferential initiative" from the president (a type of fast-track authority where president can send two initiatives per congressional period to be voted on within 30 days)
* Review of the public accounts prolonged one month
* Senate will ratify regulatory organs of telecommunications, energy, and economic competition
* Presidential succession established if something happens to the executive (the Interior Secretary would take over until Congress names an interim or substitute president)
* Alternative ways for presidential swearing-in (recall 2006 here)

Key original components that Congress removed from the reform, and which interior secretary Alejandro Poiré designated "pending," are: reelection of lawmakers and mayors, reducing number of lawmakers, a second round in the presidential election, allowing Supreme Court to present law initiatives, presidential veto over budget, and others.

Here's a graphic from El Universal on the changes:

El Universal

Source:
Ocho cambios en materia política. El Universal, Aug. 9, 2012
Calderón firma decreto de la reforma política. El Universal, Aug. 9, 2012
Promulga Calderón la reforma política. La Jornada, Aug. 9, 2012

Ebrard proposes "coalition government"

Marcelo Ebrard yesterday said that Mexico needs a constitutional reform so that a coalition government is possible.

This is highly relevant, but begs the question(s): What exactly does he have in mind?
A parliamentary regime? A semi-presidential regime?
Ebrard suggests "to separate the head of state from chief of government," which sounds very much like a variation of one of these two regimes. Does it also refer to a coalition government of PRD-PAN?

He also speaks of the need for legislative majorities. Indeed, no governing party has had a majority in Congress since 1997. Does that mean a more formalized legislative alliance? A common program, common legislative slates?

Hopefully more is to come here, as this is potentially really significant stuff.

No reelection of legislators and mayors after committee member switches vote

More negative news this week, unfortunately: No reelection of mayors or legislators

Having passed in the Senate, there was actually a good chance that the Reforma polìtica of Calderón would finally pass, though it is now much-changed, not all for the better.

It looked like finally Mexico would have reelection, but in the Chamber´s Constitutional commission, one PRD legislator, having earlier voted in favor of a dictamen or opinion, broke with her party to abstain, with the result that the reform, opposed by PRI and the PVEM "Green" party (though not in the Senate, where Peña Nieto has far less sway), will likely not include reelection of legislators and local mayors- a big demand from many holds, including several key civil society organizations.

The PRD legislator, Dina Herrera Soto, from Michoacán, was removed from the Commission by her party, which strongly insinuates that Herrera changed her vote after pressure-enticement from the PRI.

Circumstantial evidence for the above accusation: When she later walked into the Chamber's main hall, she was greeted with applause by the PRI.

I wonder what her price was.

Political Reform Dead on Arrival - or barely on life support

While it was not exactly a shocker that the Chamber of Deputies would end the current legislative session without even touching the Political Reform  recently approved in the Senate, it was all the more disappointing. This essentially ensures that even if passed at a later date - the chamber will have its four-month summer break - it will be too late for it to be implemented in time for the 2012 election.

PAN points the finger, and rightly so it appears, at Enrique Peña Nieto, whom it accuses of having blocked the reform, and demands a new extraordinary session now that the current official session is over. It's hard to believe that coming to pass.

It is a sad episode that reflects more broadly on what has been a remarkably unproductive legislative session, or indeed legislature in general. Milenio revealed recently that Calderón has achieved an even lower approval rate of his legislative initiatives than Fox - 66 percent vs. 75 percent. From Dec. 2000-April 2005, 105/139 of Fox' proposals were approved; from Dec. 2006-today, 72 out of 109. A direct comparison is admittedly tricky as it says nothing of the actual content or magnitude of the legislation passed, but it is nonetheless an interesting statistic - especially if we keep in mind that Calderón at first enjoyed PAN majorities in both houses.

Senate approves Political Reform: Surprising yet truly significant changes

The Mexican senate yesterday voted to approve what is commonly known simply as La Reforma Política, or a long-pending political reform. It is immensely significant, as includes the following sections:

* Independent or non-party "citizen" candidacies for the 2012 federal election

* Allows for relection of federal and state legislators

* Establishes the mechanism of a popular referendum

* Mechanism for replacing the national president should he die/be incapacitated etc
* Ratification by the senate of regulatory organs
* Gives president more veto powers over budget legislation

Of course, this does not mean the reform has passed; it will now move on to the Chamber of Deputies, and then for ratification of a majority of Mexico's state governments. It is hard to keep one's hope up too high here.

But these are truly profound changes, should they be implemented.

The mechanism of referendum may be approved as part of political reform

Reportedly, the Mexican Senate is inching forward toward an agreement on the mechanism of referendum, where popular consultations and citizen initiatives would be part of the capital-letter "Political Reform" currently being discussed (though perennially stagnated in the not exactly too hard-working Senate).

How it would work:
- The Mexican Congress would be in charge of designing the question
- The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) would be in charge of organizing the referendum
- Should the result of the vote be a 50% majority-plus-one-vote or larger, the referendum would be binding for the congress.

Certain "padlocks" are in place, however:
- Citizens cannot question/put up for a vote electoral results
- One cannot vote over the state's incomes and expenses
- National security and functioning of armed forces not up for vote
- Rights enshrined in the Constitution cannot be a subject of referendum.