The congress of Mexico City endorsed, with 42 votes in favor and 22 against, the minute that extends the presence of the Army in the streets until 2028.
🚨 #ÚltimaHora | The Congress of Mexico City approved the minute of the decree to validate the constitutional reform that extends the presence of the #GuardiaNacional in public security tasks until 2028. pic.twitter.com/bjogXxouqB
— Mexico City Congress (@Congreso_CdMex) October 18, 2022
Morena lawmakers said it was an effort to bolster public security.
“We are going to rescue the country from the ensagramiento that the opposition left us,” said the Morena bench.
“We voted in favor of this reform, for the citizens, for the country, for the peace that we all have to build,” @MarthaAvilaCDMX pic.twitter.com/bduVPoitTX
— Morena Parliamentary Group in Mexico City (@GPMorenaCdMex) October 18, 2022
Meanwhile, the opposition parties called for strengthening the state and municipal police and not giving a “blank check to the president,” said Anibal Cañez, of the PAN.
As I expressed clearly: No to militarization!
A @lopezobrador_ strategy has failed and we must bet on strengthening civilian police, let’s not give the President a blank check.
In @GPPANCDMX our vote is AGAINST military in public security tasks. pic.twitter.com/uOpANL5Kp7
— Aníbal Cañez (@CanezAnibal) October 18, 2022
So far there are two state congresses that have given the vote in favor of the minute, the first was Oaxaca.
The reform involves modifying the 2019 constitutional reform decree that created the National Guard. In it, a period of five years was given, until 2024, so that the president could resort to the military for public security, while the National Guard is consolidated.
However, now this place will culminate until 2028.
The reform establishes that the federal government must submit semi-annual reports on the work of soldiers and sailors or form a bicameral commission to monitor them.
In addition, the creation of a fund was established to strengthen local police from 2023.
Activists, civil organizations and citizens in general who oppose this reform argue that it will deepen the militarization of public security and, with it, lead to more violence and human rights violations.
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