1. Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent a letter to the US Democratic Party

The President of México, Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent a letter to Richard Neal, President of the House Ways and Means Committee, which pledges an increase in the budget for the implementation of the labor reform bill to speed up the approval of USMCA.

The Letter indicates that US$96, 336,589 will be spent on the creation of new labor institutions and the implementation of the reform. Jesús Seade, Undersecretary for North America from the Mexican Government, delivered the letter to Richard Neal who expressed optimism based on Mexico’s willingness to implement changes in this matter.

La Jornada: Andrés Manuel López Obrador envió carta congresistas del Partido Demócrata

2. Carlos Romero Deschamps quits as Head of Oil Workers Union

Carlos Romero Deschamps resigned as the Head of the Mexican Oil Workers Trade Union (STPRM), after 26 years leading it.  Manuel Limón Hernandez, former treasurer of the Union from 2007 to 2018, and current deputy of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) will succeed Deschamps while the Union organizes an internal election.

The step down of Romero Deschamps is presented in a context in which the Attorney General’s Office has accused Deschamps of illicit enrichment and money laundering.

El Universal: Renuncia Romero Deschamps a dirigencia del sindicato de Pemex

3. Bill against false invoicing was approved

Reforms on the Federal Law Against Organized Crime, The National Security Law, the Tax Code of the Federation and the National Code of Criminal Procedures were approved by the Chamber of Deputies. This modification seeks to punish the trading of fake invoices, receipts and tax fraud.

Business groups such as the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) and the Mexican Employers Federation (Coparmex) were among the groups that regretted that congressmen didn’t take into account expert insights that warned agaisnt the negative consequences of the reform bill and stated that they will present legal protection against it. The bills were sent to the President for publication and implementation.

Milenio: Truenan empresarios contra la reforma para sancionar a ‘factureras’

4. Federal Government presents Security Report

During a press conference, the Security Cabinet presented a Security Report. The Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Alfonso Durazo Montaño, emphasized the reduction in 0.5% on insecurity perception and an “inflection” in the growth rate of intentional homicides.

In other issues, Alfonso Durazo highlighted the implementation of a National Strategy Against Drug Addictions, the cancellation of political espionage, the use of intelligence against organized crime, and the unrestricted respect for human rights by security forces. The President of Mexico reiterated that the Security Cabinet meets every day to solve the insecurity problem.

Aristegui Noticias: Recibimos el país con una crisis de inseguridad crónica: Durazo al presentar informe 

5. After military operation against El Chapo Guzmán’s son, Culiacán lived another violent day

Last Thursday evening, the city of Culiacán suffered a violent episode after groups of organized crime and federal forces had a confrontation because Military Police conducted an operation to carry out a search warrant at Ovidio Guzmán’s address. Ovidio is one of the sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United States.

During a press conference with the Security Cabinet, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Alfonso Durazo said that Military Police acted in a precipitated way leading to a confrontation between Federal Forces and armed criminal groups. The Security Cabinet decided to halt the operation and set Chapo Guzmán’s son and other criminals free. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador supported the decision of the Security Cabinet and he said that the decision prioritized the integrity of the citizens in Culiacán over the capture of Ovidio Guzmán.

Milenio: Policía Ministerial actuó de forma precipitada en captura de hijo de ‘El Chapo