News

Mexico, Apr 17 (Prensa Latina) In an unexpected turn of the Mexican parliamentary crisis, originated by the presentation of an official bill on energy reform, the FAP (broad Progressive Front) legislators demanded on Thursday a national referendum on the issue.

The FAP, composed of the Revolucion Democratica, Partido del Trabajo, and Convergencia parties, have had control since last week of the presidential tribunes of both congressional chambers and blocked the senatorial buildings with thousands of brigade members.

Its legislators hold that the government proposal allows hidden oil privatization, constitutionally prohibited after it was nationalized by Gen. Lazaro Cardenas in 1938.

Although they reached an agreement with the rest of the groups to hold a national debate, prior to the analysis and vote of the bill presented, the differences continue, about duration and scope of those deliberations.

The Front proposed that after holding the debate, in which entities and organizations from all over the country should participate, a national referendum is called for the people to vote that important measure.

Faced with absence of the referendum's figure in the current legislation, they asserted that the Congress can implement the necessary changes to legalize the citizenry's right to approve or reject such measure.

Meanwhile, occupation of the congressional buildings led to suspend the solemn session intended to welcome Indian President Pratibha Patil at that place.

Together with maintenance of the so called civil resistance actions they are currently performing, those opposed to the reform bill announced another mass concentration the coming weekend at the capital's Zocalo.