After more than two hours of suspense, the discussion of the electricity reform resumed in the Chamber of Deputies, with the participation of the PAN deputy Margarita Zavala and the PRD member Edna Díaz.
According to the determination of the governing bodies of San Lázaro, since there was no procedure to meet a request from Morena, which requested that Zavala and Díaz excuse themselves from the debate, the Board of Directors was the one that urged them to excuse themselves and left them the final decision. In response, both decided to remain in the plenary and exercise their right to vote.
“Deputies Edna Gisel Díaz Acevedo and Margarita Esther Zavala Gómez del Campo, are urged to apologize for the elements that have been presented, if they consider it so and that this determination remains in you,” said Sergio Gutiérrez, president of the Chamber.
Zavala said he would not excuse himself because that request is a lack of respect and, in his opinion, Morena deputies have only used slander to avoid facing a debate.
“They have used this moment to delay a debate they don’t want to give, and they have used two slanders to delay the debates. And it is also a clear gender violence, very clear, and a violence and lack of respect for the voters who put me here, to whom I am accountable, and that nothing and no one prevents me from fulfilling my obligations in freedom and independence that we must all have here. That is why I do not apologize, for the defense of the law, for the defense of the Constitution and Of Mexico,” he said.
Díaz also refused to excuse himself and decided to remain in the plenary.
Hours earlier, Sergio Gutiérrez had decreed a recess for the Political Coordination Board (Jucopo) to analyze the issue and decide if Zavala and Díaz could join the discussion after being accused of a possible conflict of interest.
What happened??
The discussion of the electricity reform, planned for this April 17, was delayed because Morena requested that Zavala not participate in the discussion and not cast his vote, of course a conflict of interest.
Deputy Andrea Chavez said Zavala received millions of pesos from one of Iberdrola’s subsidiaries, Avangrid, making it impossible for him to participate in the discussion.
The president of the Board of Directors said that his request would go to the legal area, but he said that it had already determined that there was no conflict from Zavala. Given this, Chávez insisted on his request, supported by Lilia Aguilar, of the PT, who in passing criticized the legislator Edna Díaz, who this week was accused of receiving in the plenary a lobbyist from the energy sector.
Given the situation, Zavala announced the opinion of the Legal Department, where it is announced that there is no conflict of interest.
In compliance with the law, I brought to the attention of the House the circumstances under which Morena cowardly alleged a conflict of interest. The resolution of the Legal Directorate of the Chamber, in the hands of Morena, concluded the obvious: that there is no such conflict of interest. pic.twitter.com/Q5N4FWmUJ8
— Margarita Zavala (@Mzavalagc) April 17, 2022
In the letter that Zavala sent to the Legal Counsel, she affirms that the activities of her husband, former President Felipe Calderón, do not prevent her from participating in the discussion of the reform.
PAN deputy José Elías Lixa described Morena’s request as a misogynistic act and a ruse not to enter the energy debate.
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