Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Morena, a prominent political party in Mexico led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has taken a firm stance on attendance at the Chamber of Deputies in San Lázaro. The party’s decision stems from concerns over absenteeism and the need for a more focused legislative environment. This move has implications for diputados (deputies) affiliated with Morena, as well as other parties such as the Partido del Trabajo (PT).
Who are the key figures?
- Morena: A left-wing political party in Mexico, currently holding the majority in the Chamber of Deputies. Led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Morena aims to enforce stricter attendance policies among its diputados.
- Cuauhtémoc Blanco: A diputado from Morena who was recently criticized for not attending a Commission meeting while playing padel. His case prompted Morena to implement the salary deduction policy.
- Margarita García García (PT): A diputada from the Partido del Trabajo who advocates for full attendance in the Chamber of Deputies, emphasizing that sessional absences are no longer justified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Patricia Galindo Alarcón (PT): Another diputada from the PT who expressed concern over insufficient quorum in committee meetings, highlighting the importance of full attendance.
- Carlos Puente Salas (PVEM): The coordinator of the Verde Ecologista Party of Mexico (PVEM), who defends the semipresencial model as a valuable tool when used appropriately.
- Kenia López Rabadán (PAN): The president of the Chamber of Deputados, who emphasizes the need for legislators to adhere to established attendance policies and the importance of the Comité de Ética.
Key Actions and Decisions
Morena has decided to implement salary deductions for diputados who fail to attend sessions in San Lázaro, both in committees and during Plenary sessions. This decision was reached through an agreement supported by the party’s bancada (parliamentary group) leaders.
- Salary deductions: Morena will withhold portions of diputados’ salaries if they do not attend sessions, aiming to prioritize in-person attendance.
- Formation of a fund: The resources collected from these deductions will be used to establish a special fund.
- Emphasis on full attendance: Morena and PT diputados have called for complete attendance during Plenary sessions, reserving semipresencial (hybrid) meetings for emergencies or urgent situations.
- Reglamento de la Cámara de Diputados: The Chamber of Deputies’ regulations stipulate that semipresencial sessions should only be applied in exceptional circumstances, not as a regular practice.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What prompted Morena’s decision to implement salary deductions?
- Q: Which parties support full attendance in the Chamber of Deputies?
- Q: How will the collected funds from salary deductions be used?
- Q: What is the stance of other parties, like PVEM, regarding attendance policies?
- Q: What role does the Comité de Ética play in enforcing attendance policies?
A: The decision was influenced by the case of diputado Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who was found not attending a Commission meeting while playing padel. This incident highlighted the need for stricter attendance policies.
A: Morena and the Partido del Trabajo (PT) have advocated for complete attendance during Plenary sessions, reserving semipresencial meetings only for emergencies or urgent situations.
A: The resources gathered from these deductions will be used to form a special fund, though the specific purpose of this fund has not been disclosed.
A: Carlos Puente Salas, coordinator of the Verde Ecologista Party of Mexico (PVEM), supports the semipresencial model as a valuable tool when used appropriately, citing increased legislative productivity in the current Legislature.
A: The Comité de Ética is responsible for defining sanctions against legislators who violate attendance policies. However, its establishment has not yet been finalized, and the Chamber of Deputies president, Kenia López Rabadán (PAN), has called for the timely formation of this committee.
