Jalisco and all of Yucatán peninsula approve PEMEX reforms; Guadalajara protesters dispersed with tear gas

16 state legislatures give the green light to constitutional amendments; PRD will pursue legal fight

The Hidalgo state assembly held a midnight session Friday to approve the changes

*Updated content: PEMEX state ratification is only one short of the constitutional requirement*
Guadalajara -
As of Sunday evening, 16 of the Mexican Republic's 31 states and one Federal District have ratified oil reforms which will open Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) to private capital and foreign participation. Because the changes amend Mexico's federal constitution, 17 local jurisdictions must approve them. Mexican states rush to endorse PEMEX reforms. Proponents of the new laws, which easily passed the Senate and the House of Deputies by heavy centrist party majorities last week, now lack but one state's vote.

Mexico already looking ahead to 2018 presidential election - or at least some savvy politicians are

MGR News Analysis - It's never too early to send up the trial balloons

*Updated Feb. 8, 2014 (below)*
Guadalajara -
Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto just completed his first year in office two weeks ago, and as he told reporters on Dec. 1, he's only 7K into his six year marathon. But that hasn't stopped the press from speculating in recent weeks about who's likely to make a run in 2018. Some have as much as declared their candidacy, while others are merely being suggested as viable or probable candidates. The leading contenders, according to political pundits in this country, include these:

Lesbian couple wed today in Guadalajara, where Jalisco gay marriage rules are a morass of legal inconsistency

The first same sex marriage in the state's 190 year history

Guadalajara -
Six weeks ago the Jalisco state legislature passed a civil union bill which will allows gay couples to enter into contractual arrangements with all the legal benefits and attributes of traditional heterosexual marriage, without being called that. It was signed immediately by PRI governor Aristóteles Sandoval, and will take effect on the first day of 2014. Same sex civil unions now approved in Jalisco.

Mexican states rush to endorse PEMEX reforms

State assembly ratification process moves like wildfire - 7 down, 10 to go

Guadalajara -
Late Tuesday evening Mexico's Senate opened the door to private investment and foreign participation in Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), the state controlled oil monopoly, and less than 24 hours later the lower federal chamber, the Cámara de Diputados, did the same. The aggregate vote in the two houses was 449-162, almost a three to one legislative majority.

Precipitous decline in complaints against Mexican troops in 2013, Human Rights Commission reports

Guadalajara -
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) reports that complaints against armed forces personnel for alleged mistreatment of civilians dropped 50% in the year about to end.

Foreign monitors, particularly Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly criticized the Mexican army for claimed human rights violations during the country's arduous drug war, launched seven years ago this week by former president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. The evidence the organization has produced has been anemic in the extreme, however. Hype always present in Mexico's drug war, especially when HRW comes to town.

Mexican domestic security evaluation on the way, says top PRI government official

An analysis is promised for March 2014

Guadalajara -
During last year's long and arduous presidential campaign, PRI candidate Enrique Peña Nieto promised he would dramatically reduce violence, especially homicides, in the first 100 days of his administration - up to 50%, he said.

Mexico's Cámara de Diputados - a House out of order?

Catfights and deputies in jockey briefs, all over PEMEX reforms

Guadalajara -
Mexico's lower federal legislative body is the Cámara de Diputados. It's 500 members are the direct equivalent of the United States House of Representatives.

In both chambers raucous members are from time to time admonished with the always reliable, "the House will be in order." In fairness to U.S. legislators, disruptive behavior is rather less common north of the border than it is south.

Exit Stage Left: PRD says "The Pact for Mexico is dead"

"The PEMEX reforms killed the Pact" - Jesús Zambrano, PRD chairman

Guadalajara -
The national chair of the far left wing Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) says it will not rejoin the much promoted Pact for Mexico, a year old agreement by Mexico's three major political parties to put aside partisan bickering and work together for the common good.

PRD left the pact on Nov. 30, in protest over the Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) constitutional amendments which yesterday were passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Mexico's federal congress. Energy reform vote nears; PRD exits Pact for Mexico.

Mexico's Chamber of Deputies wastes no time, approves PEMEX reforms

In just one day the national congress votes for a major overhaul of the ailing state oil monopoly

Guadalajara -
Less than 24 hours after the Mexican Senate's historic vote in favor of constitutional amendments which would open Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) to private capital investment and participation by foreign enterprises, the Cámara de Diputados adopted the same measure moments ago by a vote of 354-134.

Earlier in the evening deputies voted to fast track the legislation and not refer the energy reforms to subcommittees, following the lead of the Senate several days ago. PEMEX amendments are on legislative "fast track".

Guadalupanos are on the march throughout Mexico

Mexico's PEMEX enters the 21st century, as senators open the door to foreign expertise and private capital

PRI, PAN show their political muscle in the Senate, routing leftist opposition to constitutional reforms

The name won't change, but the bloated, broke, inefficient state bureaucracy will be replaced by a modern oil company with capital and technology to develop Mexico's vast offshore oil and gas fields

Related story: Dec. 11 - Mexico's Chamber of Deputies wastes no time, approves PEMEX reforms
Guadalajara -
Political history was made tonight on Mexico's Capitol Hill when a a solid majority of the Senate voted to end the state's three quarters of a century old monopoly on the oil exploration and refining industry.

After a day long debate the roll was called at 11:53 p.m. The vote was 95 in favor and 28 opposed.

Mexican leftists go to court to stop PEMEX reforms

Guadalajara -
With a final Senate vote on energy reforms just hours away, the leaders of Mexico's far left Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) have filed an emergency appeal with the nation's Supreme Judicial Court (SCJN) in an effort to shut down the ongoing debate. PEMEX constitutional amendments are on the legislative "fast track".

Deputies and party bosses of Mexico's "Aztec Sun" contend that any modifications to the internal structure of the nation's state owned oil monopoly, Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), must be put to a national citizens' referendum. The administration of president Enrique Peña Nieto says otherwise and has declined to do so.

Foreign Policy names Peña Nieto a top Global Thinker

Guadalajara -
The prestigious American magazine Foreign Policy has named Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto one of the world's top 100 thinkers and decision makers.

Editors had high praise for the 47 year old Institutional Revolutionary Party president, noting that he embarked on an ambitious course of multiple political, economic and social reforms almost the moment he was sworn in on Dec. 1, 2012. Enrique Peña Nieto at one year: a marathon, not a sprint.

PEMEX amendments are on the legislative "fast track"

Mexican literary giant has an opinion on oil issues, too

Wall art in Guadalajara's Colonia Americana: "PEMEX belongs to all of us"

Dec. 13 - Mexican states rush to endorse PEMEX reforms
Dec. 11 - Mexico's Chamber of Deputies wastes no time, approves PEMEX reforms
Dec. 11 - Mexico's PEMEX: senators open the door to foreign expertise and private capital
Guadalajara -
Debate has opened in Mexico City on a controversial proposal to open the nation's state owned oil monopoly, Petróleos Mexicanos, to private capital investment. PEMEX was established 75 years ago, when president Lázaro Cárdenas nationalized the Mexican petroleum industry on March 18, 1938, expelling foreign oil companies from the country and seizing their assets.

Mexico's congress slams through political reforms, as it prepares to take up energy ones

Legislative term limits, and a new presidential swearing in date

Guadalajara -
Mexico's congress had a busy week as it pushed through several political reforms, including term limits for its members, in just five days. Tomorrow it will begin final debate on proposed amendments to the federal constitution which would allow private capital investment in PEMEX, the state controlled oil monopoly. A vote is likely to occur late Sunday night or early Monday morning, with passage almost assured according to many observers. Forbes praises Peña Nieto's "courageous" energy policy.