Physical Confrontations in Mexican Congress Over Upcoming Presidential Inauguration (Translation)

El Universal ( Mexico City ) ^ | November 28, 2006 | Ricardo Gómez & Andrea Merlos ( translated by self )

[StJacques]

Deputies act out new confrontation at the rostrum

After the quarrel, the PRD Deputy for the State of Mexico, Alberto Lopez, had to be evacuated from the sessions room in a wheelchair

Ricardo Gómez & Andrea Merlos
El Universal
Mexico City
Tuesday 28 November 2006

4:56 p.m.   A new confrontation among federal deputies of the National Action Party (PAN) and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) was provoked at the foot of the rostrum of the Chamber of Deputies, which continues to be occupied by legislators of both factions.

At 4:13 p.m., the legislators of both groups were involved in a quarrel in which blows and verbal insults shone forth.

A deputy of the PAN, Gregorio Moya, and Victor Varela of the PRD, pushed each other with eagerness to gain positions at the rostrum.

After the quarrel, the deputy of the PRD for the State of Mexico, Alberto Lopez, had to be evacuated from the sessions room in a wheelchair.

As of this moment they have not arrived at any agreement between the factions to evacuate the rostrum, looking ahead to the Toma de Protesta¹ of Felipe Calderon Hinojosa as President of the Republic, the 1st of December.

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Translator's Note:

The Toma de Protesta is a ceremonial event spelled out in the Mexican Constitution as part of the transition into office of a new President-Elect in which the incoming President presents himself before the lower chamber of the Mexican Congress to "Take Protest" from the legislators in order to show his willingness to defend the Constitution.

 

[StJacques]

Well everyone; Friday is going to be the big day in the Mexican presidential transition. On that day, as required by the Mexican Constitution, Felipe Calderon is due to present himself before the Mexican Chamber of Deputies (their lower house) as President-Elect to demonstrate when challenged by legislators that he will defend the Mexican Constitution. It is a largely ceremonial event, but one which is spelled out in the Mexican Constitution and upon which Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's PRD has zeroed in as an act which, if prevented, could be viewed as "de-legitimizing" Felipe Calderon as President of Mexico. And it will take place two days before the Toma de Posesión (taking of possession) ceremony in which Calderon officially becomes President of Mexico on December 3rd. So this is not such a small deal after all.

You should all expect to hear more news on the Mexican presidential transition as the week wears on, but keep Friday circled as the big day.

Photos from the El Universal Photo Gallery on today's confrontation in the Mexican Congress:

Thus shines the rostrum of the Chamber of Deputies, days before the Toma de Posesión [i.e. "Taking of Possession" ceremony] of the President-Elect, Felipe Calderon, in an attempt by the legislators of the PRD to take it and to prevent the Toma de Protesta [i.e. "Taking of Protest" ceremony].

The rostrum is taken by the PAN parliamentary group in an attempt to prevent the PRD from making it their own.

An agent of the Presidential State Office confronts a legislator body-to-body to prevent the PRD deputies from taking the rostrum.

A legislator [probably of the PAN Party] throws blows and kicks at his counterparts to prevent them from climbing one of the access stairs to the rostrum.

Deputies of the PAN parliamentary group celebrate with shouts and gestures the preventing of the taking of the rostrum.

[StJacques]

A Mexican Left Watch ping for you all.

Anyone wishing to be added to the ping list may contact me via Freepmail or post within this thread.

[pushforbush]

Civil War!! A quagmire!

[Alia]

Good Lord.

These pictures are so revealing.

[California Patriot]

Yes. Mexico's future is bleak. One reason why ours is bleak, too.

[StJacques]

It's worth remembering that the good guys won today's round.

[unkus]

There used to be a saying : If the US sneezes, Mexico catches a cold". Now, I think pneumonia might be in the future for both countries.

[SoCalPol]

Thanks for the ping. Have to check in to one of the Mexican TV channels here in San Diego Fri. for the next round in this dangerous side show.

[TexasTransplant]

>>>>>"Yes. Mexico's future is bleak. One reason why ours is bleak, too"<<<<<<

Oh no my Friend, it is why our future is secure! Our nutcases are only 30% we still outnumber them. We have a viable Constitution and massive Red State solidarity. We have two thin lines of idiocy one on the East Coast, one on the West Coast, The nut cases in Detroit, Chicago and New York will start eating Pelosi (and Reid, and Dean et al)starting January.
Number one reason our future is secure is that "English" is the Universal Language and the US $Dollar is BONIFIDE Currency anywhere on the Planet, no matter how remote. Our History, Our Legacy precede us.

Trust me

TT

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

[Alia]

I don't think our future or Mexico's is bleak.

What is happening is that embedded parts of the terrorist network are rising up to the top -- and making headlines. They were always there. But between President's Bush's "financial freezes" upon the terrorist network AND the successes of American and Coalition Troops -- we are getting to see exactly HOW nearby and close our enemies always were.

I read an hysterical thread today. Fed Chair Bernanke suggesting a down-trending in the dollar, and posters forecasting "the end of the world"!

It matters not a tittle that financial matters are precisely on target, as laid out over the past 6 years. For the past year, Mr. Bernanke has been saying, very clearly, what the American Economic plan was. This devaluing of the dollar was KNOWN in advance. It moves our exports. And this is needed.

Mexico has every vested interested in halting the crapola known as Obrador and his plans. Dittos South America and Chavez. -- Economics.

I think People forget, that as the mid-east continues to "change", it unsettles all other nations, too. There's a shift not just in the socio-cultural sense, but in economics, worldwide, as well.

It's important, I think to read these articles and then, step back. There's a whole back brain by which to place these newsbits in context.

The whole hysteria over Putin in Russia. Well, go back to year 2004, and one can READ the articles and discussions which took place between our country and Russia concerning arms sales.

Russia and France had an arms deal in joint. They were planning to sell to China. That got halted, re-directed.

Ultimately, I know how crazy it can make people to see headlines announcing Russia's potential sale to Iran. But there's a flip side to this transaction, and it might just be one which may be more helpful than hurtful. At the very least, it's a shoe in the door of Iran.

Of course, I'll be lampooned as "overly optimistic"; but why shouldn't I be.

The history of civilization shows over and over -- that worse times than now were experienced -- and there was triumph.

Seeing how close the Chavez/Obrador team has been moving "something" closer to the US is most assuredly enough to give one serious pause.

But the people to watch, if one can, are those BEHIND the scenes. Obrador and his peeps can talk big, but without the right kind of backing, they are simply there for everyone's entertainment, passion, anger, joy, etc.:

I'll tell you what I wanna see... "The Great Dem Plan for Whirled Peas". :)

For 6 years, all the Dems have done is complain, mewl, puke, and kvetch. But, behind the scenes.. no doubts, little imps have been concocting great plans which are supposed to result in the rich endowment of those on the stage of Democrat Politics.

I wanna see their hand.

[Alia]

Yes, it is good news. I'm also looking forward to next round on Friday.

[Alia]

BTTT

[California Patriot]

They can make Mexico ungovernable, and that's a disaster for Mexico and us.

[StJacques]

As for Mexico, the question that matters to me is "can we identify those who are committed to standing up to the Left?" After today's events, I think we can definitively answer "yes!

There are dangers in what lies ahead to be sure, but I think the Left is more outnumbered in Mexico right now than a lot of people realize. Mexicans like law and order too.

[California Patriot]

Yes, but the left doesn't normally seize power by having the majority behind it. And I'm not predicting it's about to happen in Mexico. But I do think they'll more or less paralyze Calderon politically.

[StJacques]

". . . But I do think they'll more or less paralyze Calderon politically."

Whether you are correct or not, you have stated the stakes precisely. That is exactly what we are looking at right now. Can the Mexican Left paralyze the federal government under Calderon? I personally think the forces of order are too strong for the Left to succeed, but the problem is that the Left may not know that yet.

[bboop]

Thanks for posting that, St. J. For those of us who are scanning. Leave it to the lefties to gum things up -- they want power SO badly.

[berdie]

I guess I'm paranoid..but I worry about Mexico and South America more than I do the Middle East. Much closer to home. And with Chavez as a cheerleader against the US...and his love for Iran...

[StJacques]

This stuff is still going on tonight down in Mexico City. The PRI has proposed an alternative site for the Toma de Protesta but the PAN Party says "no."

Tempers are continuing to flare in the Chamber of Deputies:

Legislators of the PRD and PAN parties get into a brawl at the rostrum of the lower house, Deputy Victor Perez Varela is stretched out in front of the plenary session

A PAN legislator throws a refreshment can at her counterparts at the rostrum of the Congress.

At the foot of the congressional rostrum, deputies of the PRD and PAN factions go at a clearing of the deck for taking control of the lower house.

Legislators of the PAN faction smile facing the scene of a PRD deputy who tried to seat himself at the desk of the plenary session of the Congress.

Man; even the women are mixing it up!