MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s new parliament ushers in a new left-wing political era following the 1st July presidential election in which Andres Manuel López Obrador, also known as AMLO for his initials, won the majority of the votes. He will take office in three months (1st December).
The Mexican legislative branch, The Congress of the Unión, has started the 64th legislature Saturday 1st September with 628 lawmakers, including 500 deputies and 128 senators.
The president’s National Regeneration Movement (Moreno in Spanish) is controlling the overwhelming majority of both chambers with 247 deputies and 58 senators. The conservative Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI in Spanish) which governed México since 1929 except for a 12-year hiatus (2000-2012) has turned into a minority party that will form the opposition with the conservative National Action Party (PAN).
This is the first time, since 1997 when the PRI lost its parliament majority, that a Mexican president hold such power. It’s also the first time that Latin America’s second largest economy after Brazil will be controlled by left-wing forces.
The new parliament also stands out as the first congress that has reached an approximate gender parity with 241 female lawmakers against 259 men. The Senate is also composed of 63 women and 65 men. However, these numbers have not been translated into real changes within the legislative structure. Neither of the two chambers’ president are female: Porfirio Muñoz Ledo chairs the Chamber of Deputies and Martí Batres is the Senate presidente.
Also, out of the 16 parliamentary groups, there is only one female lawmaker: Sasil Dora Luz de León Villard from the Social Encounter Party which forms the parliament majority coalition.
During his campaign, López Obrador promised to make a “radical transformation” in the country, trying to put a stop to the rampant corruption and make a more equal society.
“The people authorized the Congress and the president. They voted and said that this is what they want and we have to walk in this direction”, said Tatiana Clouthier, the Morena deputy who is also been a key spokesperson for AMLO’s campaign.
She said that the majority coalition will first make changes to the Executive Power law that will lead to restructuring the government. One of those changes will be the creation of Public Security Ministry. “We will later move ahead with important changes”, mentioned the lawmaker in an interview with Mexican media.
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