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Is the United States to blame for sargassum?

Off the Record features fact-checked news written by journalists and contributors to EL UNIVERSAL

Mexican beaches have been invaded by sargassum in the last years - Photo: Alonso Cupul/EFE
08/05/2019 |09:46
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Is the United States to blame for sargassum?

President López Obrador

's cabinet has received reports in regards to the way sargassum affects touristic hubs in Quintana Roo , such as reports of the financial and image affectations after the Mexican beaches have been covered in tons of weeds . We've been told that U.S. companies are causing the phenomenon in the Gulf of Mexico for the last six years, we've also been told that this has caused the death of several species. For now, the topic and the resolution are on the hands of the Environment Ministry , who has to create a plan to help in the cleaning and support business leaders from the hotel industry, who are making a great effort to clean the beaches , hand in hand with Governor Carlos Joaquín , who established a protocol to solve the phenomenon.

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Is the PRI nearing its end?

As if the issues surrounding its incoming internal election, the PRI now has to deal with the incoming elections , especially in Baja California . In this state, which has been governed by the PAN during the last three decades, the PRI has no chance of winning the election, since polls show Morena has a large advantage but the PRI still wants to fight because it needs to compete, obtain votes, and save its registration as a political party . In the face of this scenario, the head of the PRI, Claudia Ruiz Massieu will request a leave of absence in the Senate to focus on the incoming elections. This way, Ruiz Massieu will have to save the PRI from extinction in Baja California and then solve the complicated internal election, as some PRI members claim that what is at stake is the party's viability or even its existence. The national PRI and the PRI in Baja California are in danger of extinction.

Senators will take the day to celebrate their mothers

Senators

will have to carry out an extraordinary session period to solve two constitutional reforms, four secondary laws for the National Guard , and other laws that will require a lot of work. But the lawmakers , led by Ricardo Monreal, Mauricio Kuri, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, Miguel Ángel Mancera, Dante Delgado, Raúl Bolaños Cacho, Geovanna Bolaños, and Sasil de León Villard won't attend the session on Friday. The thing is Mother's Day is on Friday and everyone will take the day off but will work for several days. Senators have an additional week to finish the legislation on May 24.

The education reform could be passed today

We've been told that everything is ready for the lower chamber to vote the education reform today. The session starts at 10 AM and then they will discuss the bill, then there will be a debate and they will vote . The second session will start at 5 PM and if the bill is passed, which is very likely, it will be sent to the Senate for its approval and hopefully, no Morena lawmakers will be missing. We will see how this turns out.

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