Electrical reform, with changes, but “without modifying its spirit”: Morena

Enrique Mendez and Nestor Jimenez

Newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, March 29, 2022, p. 6

The draft opinion of the electrical reform initiative will be distributed on April 4 to the members of the Energy and Constitutional Points commissions, so that both legislative instances approve it on the 11th and vote in the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies on the 13th. Morena announced that there will be changes to the presidential initiative, but without changing its original spirit.

The president of the Energy Commission, Manuel Rodríguez (from Morena), considered that determining that the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) controls at least 56 percent of the national market and that lithium be considered property of the nation is immovable. .

He referred that, in some of his morning conferences at the National Palace, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has expressed that he is aware that there can be contributions, that the initiative can be strengthened, and in that sense I am sure that if the original spirit of the initiative does not change, he will be very happy.

In turn, at a press conference, the national leader of Morena, Mario Delgado, pointed out that the initiative to reform the Constitution must be approved preferably on your terms.

But if improvements can be made, that’s great, but that the fundamentals be respectedbecause the initiative is very well thought out, very well designed, to achieve what is sought in terms of electrical sovereignty.

Although he expressed that his party is not closed to changes being made, he expressed: our call is for it to be approved as is. If improvements can be made, that’s great, but respect the fundamentals. Reading it well and calmly is forceful.

Meanwhile, the deputy Manuel Rodríguez specified that the changes will allow the private initiative to make clear guarantees to continue with its participation in the electricity market, which is expected to be up to 44 percent.

We will make it very clear, very well written, that existing national and foreign investments are guaranteed, they are not put at risk and, on the contrary, the participation of the private sector will continue, as long as it is done with fair and legitimate rules for Mexicans.he declared.

The process towards the drafting of the opinion project began precisely yesterday, with the installation of the Energy and Budget commissions, which declared themselves in permanent session and approved the agenda, which already includes as one of its points the reading and, where appropriate, approval of the reform opinion to articles 25, 27 and 28 of the Constitution.

The PAN deputies objected to considering the debate on the document when it does not yet exist. However, the presidents of both commissions explained that, since it is a permanent session, it should be considered to address it on April 11, at 11 am, when work will resume.

In accordance with the regulations, any draft opinion must be circulated to the members of the commissions five days before the date for discussion and approval. That is, explained the head of Constitutional Points, Juan Ramiro Robledo, the draft opinion will be distributed to the members of both commissions no later than April 4, at 11 am.