Rushed Reforms? Mexico’s Congress Faces Questions Over Fast-Track
Mexico’s Congress launched an extraordinary session on Monday, with a notably low turnout: only 266 of 500 deputies and 89 of 128 senators were present. But what really caught observers’ attention was the ambitious agenda: lawmakers intend to push through a package of 22 reform initiatives over the next ten days. The implementation of several new laws marks an important transition for Mexico’s legal framework. For companies and legal teams, this means that new decision-makers and updated rules will take effect within a rather short timeframe.
A new Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law is set to replace the existing one, raising attention from industry and investors concerned about the extent of regulatory shifts. Stakeholders highlight the risk that increased government participation in providing services could distort market dynamics and limit fair competition, creating uncertainty for private operators and future investments.
Congress will also debate major security and intelligence measures, including a redesigned institutional structure for the National Guard, aimed at improving coordination and effectiveness. For the private sector, other key changes include amendments to the Federal Law on Economic Competition and the Federal Law of State-Owned Entities, both aimed at tightening market regulation and oversight of public enterprises.
Equally notable is the proposed National Law to Eliminate Bureaucratic Procedures, which promises to streamline administrative processes and cut red tape — a longstanding request from the private sector. Finally, reforms to the Railways Law and related infrastructure statutes seek to modernize the legal framework for transportation and logistics, critical for trade and supply chain resilience.
However, the opposition in the Senate has warned about “midnight surprises”, improvisation, and a lack of transparency in handling such weighty topics on an accelerated timeline. PAN Senate Leader Ricardo Anaya stated, “We have no access to the drafts of the Forced Disappearance Law or the Telecom Law. They don’t want us to know the details so they can pass them quietly, keeping the public in the dark.”
Infonavit’s Controversial Rescue Plan for Abandoned Homes
Infonavit’s new plan to regularize abandoned homes through a sale scheme for current illegal occupants has triggered heated debate among housing experts, lawmakers, and property rights advocates.
Infonavit Director Octavio Romero Oropeza outlined that the goal is to recover part of an estimated 145,000 homes currently registered as abandoned, with nearly 800,000 nationwide affected by vacancy or neglect. The rationale is to prevent further decay, halt debt accumulation for original owners, and provide families already occupying these properties with a path to ownership.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has defended the proposal, stressing that the Mexican Constitution guarantees private property and that the program respects workers’ rights. In her daily briefing, she called the scale of abandonment “impressive” and argued that leaving these houses empty is “absurd” given Mexico’s pressing housing needs.
Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez clarified that the program aims to prevent violent evictions and that any proven case of trespassing will still be investigated, ensuring due respect for lawful ownership.
Despite the administration’s assurances, Mexico’s leading business groups —including Coparmex, Concamin and Canaco Mexico City among many others— have publicly warned that regularizing the occupation of homes without proper title deeds effectively normalizes invasion as a means of acquiring housing. The private sector has urged authorities to design measures that strike a balance between social needs and legal certainty, thereby avoiding a precedent that could erode confidence in the housing market.
Censorship Tensions: Are Puebla and Campeche Trial Balloons?
The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued a formal statement urging Puebla’s legislature to review the recently passed reforms to the state’s Penal Code, especially the new criminal definition of “cyber harassment” in article 480. The Commission described the language as ambiguous and warned that, while respecting Puebla’s legislative sovereignty, clarity is essential to avoid misuse against journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens.
Governor Alejandro Armenta has framed the reforms as a necessary step to strengthen cybersecurity amid a rise in online identity theft and fraud. The ruling party, Morena, reinforced this stance on Sunday, voting unanimously to support the government’s cybersecurity policy in the face of growing opposition.
Free speech groups, including Article 19, have flagged the vague wording of Article 480 of the state’s Penal Code as a clear threat to freedom of expression. The contrast is stark: while Sheinbaum’s federal administration walked back a similar provision in the Federal Telecommunications Law that would have allowed the government to block digital platforms and monitor private data without court oversight, Puebla’s local leadership has pushed ahead, brushing off national concerns.
Censorship concerns have also surfaced in Campeche. After 50 years of publishing, Tribuna, the state’s first print newspaper, closed on June 13 following a court ruling in favor of Governor Layda Sansores. The paper’s parent company, its former director and an administrator faced charges of inciting hatred, defamation, and slander after a two-year legal battle. Critics argue that the shutdown sets a worrying precedent for press freedom at the state level. When asked during a press conference, President Sheinbaum reiterated her administration’s commitment to free expression, while acknowledging ongoing disputes over alleged abuses of this fundamental right.
As these disputes evolve, the president will face a tough, but now familiar, balancing act. Maintaining unity within her party might call for tolerating less-than-friendly measures in some states, which critics could say actually represent her own views. On the other hand, coming out against such actions by members of the party, particularly those who owe their positions to her predecessor (or her rivals), could complicate matters for her own administration, particularly its legislative agenda.
Sheinbaum at the G7: Mexico Steps Up as a Global Bridge
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first official appearance at the G7 Summit in Canada drew praise from many foreign policy observers. Not surprisingly, the cancellation of the meeting with U.S. President Trump caught the headlines. However, commentators also noted that Mexico’s participation sent a clear signal of its growing geopolitical relevance and the intention to play a more active role in global discussions than under AMLO.
During the summit, Sheinbaum held bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting Mexico’s interest in strengthening ties with partners beyond the United States. She also had a brief exchange with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, underscoring an intention to deepen links with Europe’s largest economy.
The agenda covered technology, artificial intelligence, migration, and regional conflicts. According to participants, Sheinbaum used her remarks to stress the importance of peace, equitable trade, and multilateral cooperation — framing these priorities as complementary to the G7’s economic focus.
Contact:
Laura Camacho
Executive Director Miranda Public Affairs
laura.camacho@miranda-partners.com
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