Mexico

January 15, 2021

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1. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador seeks elimination of autonomous entities

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador spoke out regarding the elimination of autonomous bodies, beginning with those created by the federal branch. Their tasks and responsibilities will be taken over by government agencies.

T-MEC experts and former public officials have spoken out against it, pointing out that the elimination of bodies such as the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) runs counter to the provisions of the treaty and could have negative consequences. Similarly, former commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) have stated that the body should remain in place, as it provides legal certainty for private investment.

El Financiero: Los órganos autónomos están ‘blindados’ por el T-MEC, señalan expertos.
El Financiero: Excomisionados de la CRE piden conservar organismos autónomos para proteger la inversión energética.Lo que sabemos hasta ahora del plan de vacunación de Covid-19

2. Electoral commission requests suspending broadcast of daily presidential press conferences starting April

As part of the measures to be adopted in the framework of the 2021 electoral process, the National Electoral Institute (INE) requested the suspension of the transmission of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s morning press conference beginning April 4th. The INE General Council is preparing a list of statements that the president will be prohibited from making, in order to level the electoral playing field.

President López Obrador stated that the measures presented by the INE violate freedom of expression, describing them as an act of censorship and intolerance and indicated that he would resort to federal resources to denounce the measure. Finally, he called on citizens to express their views on the issue.

Animal Político: INE pide no transmitir completas las mañaneras; ‘es un acto de censura’, dice AMLO.

3. Employment recovery streak broken in December

Mexico’s exports to the U.S. outpaced imports from the U.S. between January and November 2020, recording a trade surplus to the tune of USD $102 billion. Against a backdrop characterized by the pandemic, Mexican exports decreased from March to August, but began to recover in September, driving the country’s economic recovery.

For its part, the World Bank has emphasized that the country’s economic growth will depend on exports to the United States and their economic recovery. The World Bank warned of risks such as the persistence of the pandemic and the logistics of the National Vaccination Plan. It is estimated that the growth of the national economy will be close to 1.6%.

Forbes: México rompe racha positiva y pierde 278,000 empleos en diciembre: IMSS.
Dinero en Imagen: Economía de México se logrará recuperar hasta el 2023, advierte Moody’s.
El Financiero: Prevé Banxico crecer hasta 5.3% con vacuna.

4. Recognition of remote work takes effect

This week, amendments to the Federal Labor Law, which recognizes and regulates remote work and requires companies to provide the right to disconnect at the end of the working day, assume the costs of work (payment of telecommunications services and part of the electricity), among others measures. The amendments were enacted through publication in the Federal Official Gazette.

As part of the process, and within a period of no more than 18 months, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security must publish an Official Mexican Standard (NOM) that addresses occupational health and safety obligations under this new norm.

El Economista: Entra en vigor ley que regula el teletrabajo; STPS deberá publicar NOM de seguridad.

5. Attorney General’s Office exonerates General Salvador Cienfuegos

Through a statement, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) exonerated General Salvador Cienfuegos from charges of alleged money laundering and drug trafficking. According to the analysis carried out by the FGR, no evidence was found regarding alleged meetings or communication with the criminal organization investigated by the U.S. authorities.

Last October, General Cienfuegos was arrested in Los Angeles, California. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, he was facing four charges related to drug trafficking. However, in November the charges were dropped, and he managed to return to Mexico, where he would be investigated by the relevant authorities.

El País: La Fiscalía exonera al general Salvador Cienfuegos tras su vuelta a México.