| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico | December 2009 
Presentation of Bill for Political Reform
 Suzanne Stephens Waller - Presidencia de la República
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December 16, 2009
Mexico City - Tuesday, President Felipe Calderón submitted the Political Reform Bill, which includes other points:
1. Free local legislatures and the Federal District Assembly in order to be able to establish the consecutive election, for a period of up to 12 years, of mayor and other members of town halls, as well as heads of delegaciones (boroughs).
2.- Permit the consecutive election of federal and local legislators for periods of up to 12 years.
3.- Reduce the number of Congress members. The 32 seats elected from a national list will be eliminated from the Senate, leaving 3 Senators per state, making a total of 96. The number of deputies in the Chamber of Deputies is to be reduced from 500 to 400.
4. It is proposed that the number of votes that will entitle a political party to retain its registration be reduced from 2% to 4% in order to guarantee greater social representation of Political Parties.
5. Incorporate the figure of Civic Initiative by expanding the political guarantees of citizens and authorizing the latter to submit bills to Congress.
6. In order to expand citizens’ rights, it is proposed that independent candidacies be incorporated at the constitutional level for all popularly elected posts.
7.- Adopt of system of election by absolute majority with a second round for the election of the President. A candidate who, in the first round, obtains half the votes cast, will be elected President. If no other candidate obtains an absolute majority, a second round will be implemented for the two that have obtained the highest number of votes.It is also proposed that the second round be carried out on the same date as the legislative election.
8.- The Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) acknowledges the authority to submit bills within the sphere of its competence. Thus, the SCJ would be able to improve the functioning of judicial power and the possibility of directly influencing constitutional means of control such as habeas corpus, constitutional controversies and unconstitutional actions.
9. The President authorizes the submission at the beginning of each ordinary period of sessions of two priority bills that must be examined and voted on by Congress before the end of this period.
In the event that Congress does not approve or vote on the bill, it will be regarded as having been passed. In the event that no decision has been made by Congress, the constitutional reform bills presented within this procedure will be submitted to a referendum so that citizens will be able to determine its possible approval.
10.- Authorize the President to make partial or total observations on all the bills approved by Congress and the Federation's Expenditure Budget.
The address was delivered in the Manuel Ávila Camacho Hall of the Official Los Pinos Residence at 8:30 a.m. President Calderón stressed that the Nation's aspirations must not be frustrated by the lack of agreements, hence the need for reforms of various areas including politics.
The aim of the proposals presented today is to empower citizens and strengthen democracy and for those to exercise power to be clearly subjected to the will of society.
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