English

The soap opera channel of the Congress

Under Reserve features fact-checked news written by journalists and contributors to EL UNIVERSAL

Mexican Congress – Photo: Pedro Mera/EL UNIVERSAL
14/01/2018 |09:56
Redacción
Pendiente este autorVer perfil



The soap opera channel of the Congress

The Congress Channel , despite being an official broadcasting service of deputies and senators, spent 20 years subjected to restrictions and is just now beginning to operate autonomously. The hope is that the possible improvements in its services contribute to a more democratic environment at the Congress – we'll have to wait and see – in addition, that it has, extraordinarily, doubled its small little budget, all due to the will of the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the conservative National Action Party (PAN), and the left Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) at both Chambers. So we're right on time to witness the birth of the soap opera channel...of the Congress.

Corral, good for criticizing but…

Newsletter
Recibe en tu correo las noticias más destacadas para viajar, trabajar y vivir en EU

Our sources within the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party ( PRI ) tell us that the Governor of Chihuahua, Javier Corral , of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), turned out to be good for fights and denounce the lack of federal resources for his state, and good for criticizing too; however, PRI members say it would be interesting to know where will the resources for the demonstration in Chihuahua come from, considering that, according to Corral, he hasn't received federal funds. It is said he will also have the pressence of his staff with him at the main square to demand respect from the Federal Government. By the way, Corral said yesterday that those who downplay his claims are supporters of the PRI regime. He failed to mention that this week PAN member Francisco Domínguez, president of the Treasury Commission of the National Conference of Governors and Governor of Querétaro, said there were no complaints from local governments, like Corral said. And another Governor, Silvano Aureoles, of the left Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), is telling him he's “seeing ghosts.” Jaime Rodríguez, “El Bronco,” Governor of Nuevo León, said no Governor has had issues with federal funds and mentioned that Corral still has to prove his claims.

AMLO and the power of the teachers

The teachers of Mexico are awaiting a massive meeting in Oaxaca , called by Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) . We've been told the meeting - to which several members of Mexico's Teacher's Union (SNTE) and the National Coordination of Teachers (CNTE) will attend, including organizations of unaffiliated teachers – will prove the full teacher community is with Andrés Manuel, who has been trying to get their support for several months now, and has even promised to cancel the education reform.

The absence of Cardinal Rivera

During the annual peregrination of the Archdiocese of Mexico to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe , the presence of Cardinal Norberto Rivera was expected. Signs with phrases thanking Rivera for 22 years as the head of the Mexican Catholic Church were placed both inside the Basilica and at the atrium. The faithful filled the venue but the Cardinal failed to show up.

am