### AMLO Denies Negotiations with the Yunes; PVEM Flirts with Them
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador asserted on September 11, 2024, that there were no negotiations with Senators Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares and his son, Miguel Ángel Yunes Márquez, regarding their decision to vote in favor of the reform of the Federal Judiciary (PJF), from which they had previously committed to vote against.
After nearly 11 hours of debate, at exactly 3:56 a.m. on September 11, 2024, with 86 votes in favor and 41 against, the full Senate of the Republic—meeting at the alternate headquarters of the Xicoténcatl mansion—approved the PJF reform sent by President López Obrador on February 5 of the same year. Although 80 reservations were presented, none of them were approved by the Senate. The votes in favor came from the “Fourth Transformation” coalition, which includes senators from Morena, the Green Party (PVEM), and the Labor Party (PT), plus a vote from Yunes Márquez of the PAN bloc, which provided the required supermajority.
Yunes Márquez confirmed on September 10, 2024, during the Senate session, that he would vote in favor of the PJF reform, despite previously committing to vote against it. Just hours after requesting a leave of absence for health reasons, the PAN senator reappeared at the Xicoténcatl mansion, accompanied by his father and substitute, Yunes Linares.
In his morning press conference from the Treasury Room at the National Palace, the president acknowledged political differences with the ex-Governor of Veracruz and his family but appreciated their changed stance in support of the PJF reform. López Obrador strongly denied any negotiation for their vote.
“Nothing was negotiated, absolutely nothing. And the reason people think there was a negotiation is that conservatives and their spokespeople believe everyone is like them,” said López Obrador. He did acknowledge that the coordinator of the Morena legislative group in the Senate, Adán Augusto López Hernández, did converse with the Yunes but denied any illicit deals for their support.
“Possibly, López Hernández spoke with Yunes Linares; that is his job as a legislator. The senators are responsible for securing votes for constitutional reforms,” López Obrador added, emphasizing that there were no threats or monetary incentives involved in Yunes’ decision but rather a political judgment.
In contrast, Manuel Velasco Coello, coordinator of the PVEM in the Senate, welcomed Yunes Márquez to the “Fourth Transformation,” stating that the decision lies with Yunes.
“I don’t know if the Morena would open their doors to him, it’s not a partisan issue. There was no invitation to the party, and I don’t engage in complicit relationships with anyone,” concluded López Obrador.
### Additional News
In another related development, a sharp political maneuver unfolded on September 10, 2024, when the state congress of Oaxaca became the first to approve the PJF reform within a mere five minutes. This swift approval highlighted the growing political momentum and legislative alignment supporting federal judicial reforms across various states.
Parallelly, political analysts have noted a potential shift in alliances as former opposition leaders and influential political figures like Yunes Márquez begin to support reforms, possibly indicating larger strategic moves leading up to future elections. The implications of these alignments suggest a broader reconfiguration in the Mexican political landscape, with long-term consequences for institutional reforms and governance.
Moreover, tensions continue on another front, as former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that migrants are responsible for consuming pets, laying blame on Vice President Kamala Harris for an alleged assassination attempt. These assertions have quickly stirred controversy, reflecting the ongoing polarization and charged political climate in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Read more on these stories and other breaking news on TJGringo.com.