The US knows that in the electricity sector the decisions are ours: AMLO

Roberto Garduno and Fabiola Martinez

Newspaper La Jornada
Friday, April 8, 2022, p. 4

The authorities of the United States know that in electrical matters the decisions are ours and they should not intervenePresident Andrés Manuel López Obrador made it clear. In the National Palace, he recalled that in the last conversation with the White House’s special envoy for climate change issues, John Kerry, he told him that he would respond to those who denounce violation of the T-MEC by Mexico, because one of its chapters requires governments not to allow corruption.

Hours before the session in the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), in which the constitutionality of the electricity law was finally confirmed, the Tabasco insisted that he had acted responsibly so as not to give reason for shouting to the heavens saying that we are going to expropriate and that there is no confidence in foreign investment.

When asked if he would accept additions to the draft decree that is being decided in the Chamber of Deputies, he replied that there is an opening as long as there are coincidences. He reproached the speech that extols the clean energy to do dirty business; so the PRI has to be defined. In the case of the PAN, not much can be expected. It is not justification, but the PAN emerged to defend the interests of individuals, national and foreign companies.

The President extended more than 40 minutes in a response on his electrical reform and then gave rise to the call to the PRI members to define themselves. “Now, what does Alejandro Moreno have to do with this thought, if they vote in favor of the companies, or the political chief of the PRI, Moreira, Rubén Moreira? Why did I mention Mr. Rubén Moreira? Because they propose to look for coincidences and of 12 aspects of the reform they say they agree with six. Of course, it is progress, but not even an hour had passed and he was already declaring that it was not like that, because they are already thinking of defining themselves in favor of foreign firms. I hope they change their minds, but above all the legislators, who act independently and, I repeat, who have the arrogance to feel free and rebel, and think that the homeland comes first.

He was asked about the meeting he had with Ken Salazar, the United States ambassador to Mexico. The subject was discussed, but they already know that these are our decisions and that they should not intervenehe replied.

– Were there claims about this that you denounced about the US lobbying against the electricity initiative?

–No, but it is evident, even an official from the Secretary of Energy of the United States government sent a threatening letter that she was, we were with the initiative violating the treaty, which is not true. In addition, I also expressed this to Mr. Kerry, very respectfully, and I have told those who make this statement, that there is a chapter in the treaty that obliges governments not to allow corruption. And if we go to international courts, we are going to deal with the issue of those who are supporting what is illegal for reasons of corruption, and we have the proof.

By clarifying that the relationship with Salazar is respectful and is generally good with the US government, he turned it against “those who are used to looting, stealing, do not want to stop doing it. Now there is a popular peasant saying that says that ‘hen that eats eggs, don’t even burn its beak’. Rooster too. They are dominated by ambition, they have no filler.

“But put yourself in my shoes. What do we have to do? What are we here for? For the gloating of the paraphernalia of power? To feel very important, to call me ‘Mr. President’?”