La Manzanilla.info Message Board Archives

Mexico news Sept.11

Posted by The Generals on September 16, 2012, 1:03 pm
50.92.172.87

Subject: Mexico News DAILY September 11. 2012

Mexico

Peña Nieto makes transparency a priority

Development: On 10 September Mexico’s President-elect, Enrique Peña Nieto, presented a constitutional reform proposal that is to become the first legislative initiative of his future government, due to take office on 1 December.
Significance: The proposal intends to reform ten constitutional articles to give more autonomy to the federal information access institute (Ifai), which Peña Nieto believes will help improve government transparency. Peña Nieto has promised that his government will not be a throwback to the ‘old PRI’ (the Partido Revolucionario Institucional), which ruled Mexico uninterruptedly for 71 years until 2000. This period is often associated with widespread corruption. The decision to prioritise transparency and the fight against corruption is a well calculated one on Peña Nieto’s part to show that he will deliver on his promise.
Key points:
• Peña Nieto presented the proposal following a meeting with 300 of Mexico’s most influential political and social leaders. Pointing out that increased government transparency is necessary since “corruption is, without a doubt, one of the issues that lacerates and hurts relations between the government and the people the most”, Peña Nieto presented a draft of the initiative to the new head of the PRI in the senate, Emilio Gamboa Patrón. “I intend to head a democratic and transparent government starting from 1 December”, Peña Nieto stated, adding that the bill will be formally sent to congress as soon as he takes office.
• The Ifai was created in 2003 under the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) government of Vicente Fox (2000-2006) with the aim of providing public access to information.  However, the federal government has been accused of controlling the Ifai. The initiative aims to dissociate the Ifai from the federal administration; increase the number of Ifai commissioners from five to seven; and give them more power by allowing them to turn to the supreme court directly to determine if any information requested must be withheld in the interest of national security. The initiative also looks to extend the Ifai’s jurisdiction to the state and local governments.
• Peña Nieto said that he will soon unveil other initiatives aimed at increasing transparency and fighting corruption.
123


  • Mexico news Sept.11 - The Generals September 16, 2012, 1:03 pm
By posting, you confirm that you have read and agreed to be bound by the board's usage terms.

Back

Be sure to visit www.lamanzanilla.info