Overview of Pending Decrees in Mexican Congress
With only two days remaining before the deadline for the extraordinary session of the Mexican Congress of the Union, both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies have yet to discuss and potentially approve four decrees each.
Senate’s Pending Decrees
The Senate is expected to approve today the decree on the floor regarding the bill sent by the Chamber of Deputies, which establishes the Guardia Nacional Law and reforms various provisions of the Federal Administrative Organization Law of the Public Administration, the Mexican Army and Air Force Orgnanic Law, the Military Education Law of the Army and Air Force, the Ascent and Rewards Law of the Army and Air Force, the Institute of Social Security for the Mexican Armed Forces Law, and the Discipline Law of the Army and Air Force. Additionally, it addresses changes to the Military Justice Code and the Military Procedures Penal Code. All these alterations pertain to the new design of the Guardia Nacional (GN).
According to the established schedule, the Senate will also approve, on the last day of the extraordinary session, the decrees for the National Investigation and Intelligence System Law in Security Public Matters and the General Law of the National Security Public System.
As of yesterday, there was no clarity on whether the Senate would approve or postpone the bill sent by the Chamber of Deputies on March 23, which reforms Article 191 of the Social Security Law concerning unemployment retirement.
Chamber of Deputies’ Pending Decrees
The Chamber of Deputies still needs to approve the bills sent by the Senate related to reforms in the Federal Law for the Prevention and Identification of Operations with Illicitly-Obtained Funds (money laundering) and the General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons, Disappearance Committed by Private Individuals, and the National System for Searching for Missing Persons. Furthermore, they will consider the General Population Law to strengthen the search, location, and identification of missing persons.
The federal deputies will also approve, between today and the following Wednesday, the new Telecommunications and Radiodiffusion Law, which abrogates the current Federal Telecommunications and Radiodiffusion Law. They will also tackle changes already approved by the Senate to the Federal Competition Law and the Federal Law on Para-State Entities.
Key Figures and Context
The Mexican Congress of the Union comprises two chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The extraordinary session is a limited-time period during which Congress can address urgent matters. In this instance, several crucial decrees require approval before the session’s deadline.
The Guardia Nacional (GN) is a gazetteer security force established in 2019, merging elements from the Federal Police and the Mexican Army. The proposed reforms aim to clarify its structure, roles, and responsibilities within the Mexican security apparatus.
Money laundering is a significant concern for Mexico, as it facilitates organized crime and corruption. The reform to the Federal Law for the Prevention and Identification of Operations with Illicitly-Obtained Funds seeks to strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms against money laundering activities.
The forced disappearance of persons has been a persistent human rights issue in Mexico. The proposed reforms to the General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons aim to establish clearer guidelines for investigating and prosecuting such cases, as well as creating a national system to search for missing persons.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the pending decrees in Mexican Congress? Both chambers of the Mexican Congress have yet to discuss and potentially approve four decrees each, including reforms to the Guardia Nacional Law, money laundering regulations, and laws addressing forced disappearances.
- What is the Guardia Nacional (GN)? The GN is a security force established in 2019, merging elements from the Federal Police and the Mexican Army. The proposed reforms aim to clarify its structure, roles, and responsibilities.
- Why are money laundering regulations important in Mexico? Money laundering is a significant concern for Mexico, as it facilitates organized crime and corruption. The proposed reforms aim to strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms against money laundering activities.
- What is the issue with forced disappearances in Mexico? Forced disappearances have been a persistent human rights issue in Mexico. The proposed reforms aim to establish clearer guidelines for investigating and prosecuting such cases, as well as creating a national system to search for missing persons.
