Latest News

Mexican senate passes proposition to abolish self-governing bodies

Mexico's Senate on Thursday passed a step to abolish the autonomous bodies that manage some economic sectors and guarantee government openness, a reform that has stimulated outcry from the opposition and industry.

Lawmakers in the upper chamber voted on the proposal's. basic terms with 86 in favor and 42 against, with nearly the. exact same tally coming in for the expense's particular terms.

It had passed in the lower house last week.

The reform proposes scrapping self-governing firms such. as antitrust watchdog Cofece, telecoms regulator IFT, energy. regulator CRE, hydrocarbon regulator CNH and public information. and data security office INAI.

Their functions would be taken control of by other government. bodies such as the main statistics office, the electoral. authority and federal government ministries.

The head of the Senate constitutional committee, Oscar. Canton of the ruling Morena celebration, stated that the proposition. represents the administration's dedication to an austere,. effective government concentrated on the needs of its individuals.

The step is among the constitutional reforms. provided in February by previous President Andres Manuel Lopez. Obrador and backed by present President Claudia Sheinbaum, aimed. at cutting public costs by centralizing the state apparatus.

Opposition legislators and experts, however, allege that. the reform threatens democracy and that it will hamper. accountability versus federal government misdeeds.

Morena and their allies are searching for overall opacity,. the removal of any counterweight to the power they wish for,. opposition senator Agustin Dorantes stated in the session.

(source: Reuters)