Who's afraid of Lozoya?

Who's afraid of Lozoya?

A backwards world we're living in. Now it turns out the one who can hardly wait to make his statement before Mexico's Office of the Attorney General (PGR) on the alleged bribe of 10 million dollars that former Odebrecht officials claim they gave the former CEO of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) is none other than said former CEO, Emilio Lozoya Austin . Mr. Emilio's attorney, Javier Coello Trejo, claims that his client is just waiting for the time and day he appears before the PGR – an appointment Lozoya himself requested days ago – to make whatever statement he is required to make. Meanwhile, Lozoya has become the most cooperative individual in the world. Unfortunate, really, that the PGR doesn't seem to be investigating the case or interested in summoning Lozoya; similarly to the Ministry of Public Administration, which seems to have nothing against Mr. Emilio. Some people have wondered why if Brazil has clearly denounced the former CEO, no one in Mexico seems to even want to question him on this subject. Are there people out there who are afraid of what he could say?

MORENA on the trail of Odebrecht

The one who seems to have the intention of doing all the work others seem to be shunning, is the far- left National Regeneration Party ( MORENA ) coordinator of the Deputy Chamber, Rocío Nahle, who has claimed she is willing to fly to Brazil as secretary to the Energy Commission and meet Rodrigo Janot , the general attorney of the South American country, in order to request a copy of the statements of those who are involved in the Odebrecht case so far. This way, the Legislative Branch in Mexico can become familiar with the information which allegedly links former and current government officials with corruption acts. Even if the deputy's quest has slim chances of success – it is highly unlikely that Brazilian authorities will share this information – at least she's showing a better disposition than many other political parties and authorities whose obligation is to promptly investigate in depth these accusations, we're told.

And one economist for NAFTA

The Mexican Senate has added an economist to the team of legislators who will closely follow up on the renegotiation talks of the North American Free Trade (NAFTA) with the United States and Canada. We're told the Political Coordination Board, presided by National Action Party ( PAN ) member Fernando Herrera, added to their members – at the very last minute – Mario Delgado, a member of the Labor Party (PT) . This decision came when they realized the Labor Party had been excluded from the NAFTA group of legislators formed by the Mexican Parliament. Now, we're told, they expect Mr. Mario, former Secretary of Finance to Mexico City and M.S in Economy, to work with the legislative team. Hurray! The Mexican legislators are complete!

PAN confident of annulment in Coahuila

The National Action Party (PAN) , led by Ricardo Anaya, is very confident that the excess in the campaign expenditure budget of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Coahuila will be confirmed by the Electoral Court of the Federal Judicial Branch of Mexico (TEPJF), and that the amount will surpass the 8% detected by the National Electoral Institute (INE). The PAN's optimism is based on the on the old claim filed at the beginning of July by the Technical Audit Unit of the INE, requesting the validation of unreported expenses by the PRI candidate Miguel Riquelme. The TEPJF heard the contestation of the PAN last Tuesday, claiming there are more millions of Mexican pesos to be added to the campaign expenses of the PRI. The PAN members, we're told, have their hopes up and expect the Electoral Court to add the allegedly new PRI expenses to the figure audited by the INE. However, PRI members claim nothing of the sort will happen and that Riquelme will become the governor of Coahuila in December.

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