### Mexican Deputies Issue Publicity Declaration on GN Incorporation into SEDENA
On September 18, 2024, the Executive Board of the LXVI Legislature of the Chamber of Deputies issued a publicity declaration for a bill proposing various constitutional reforms. This bill aims to incorporate the National Guard (GN) into the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA). The initiative, strongly supported by Morena and its allies from the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM) and the Labor Party (PT), intends to finalize this military alignment before President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term ends on September 30, 2024.
Leaders from Morena’s parliamentary groups in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate announced on September 17, 2024, that the constitutional amendments could be voted on in the coming days. The amendments, once approved by the Deputies, will be forwarded to the Senate for further processing in committees.
“We plan to deliberate and potentially approve the constitutional reform regarding the National Guard… The bill is positively elaborated and will be discussed in the Chamber of Deputies next Thursday before being sent to the Senate,” said Ricardo Monreal Ávila, coordinator of Morena’s parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies.
Moisés Ignacio Mier Velazco, Morena’s vice-coordinator in the Senate, disclosed that the Senate plans to process the bill within the week once it arrives from the Chamber of Deputies. He noted that the bill may be discussed in committees by Monday, September 23, 2024.
The reform proposes amendments to 12 constitutional articles to ensure that the National Guard personnel are originally military, despite their police training. However, opposition from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the National Action Party (PAN) has been vocal, with their legislative coordinators declaring their intent to vote against the reform.
The bill also seeks to grant the National Guard investigative authority within its jurisdiction and ensures coordination between the National Guard, public prosecution, and police institutions across federal, state, and municipal levels to enhance public security.
Additionally, the reform stipulates several administrative and operational changes, such as budgeting and personnel transfer details from the now-defunct Federal Police to the new structure under SEDENA. It emphasizes that military courts will not have jurisdiction over civilians and military personnel would need to step down from active service to run for elective office.
#### Secondary Article: Opposition Voices Concerns Over National Guard Reform
Recent Developments:
1. **Opposition Resistance**: Leaders from the PRI and PAN have voiced significant concerns over the proposed constitutional changes. They argue that further militarization of public security forces could undermine democratic civilian oversight.
2. **Public Opinion**: Public sentiment remains mixed. While some support the increased military involvement in tackling rampant violence, others fear potential abuses and the erosion of civil rights.
3. **International Observations**: International human rights organizations are closely monitoring the developments, with some expressing concern that such reforms could contravene international norms regarding civilian control over military forces.
4. **Government Justifications**: The current administration argues that the National Guard’s integration into SEDENA is necessary for achieving national stability and combating organized crime effectively.
As the legislative process unfolds, it remains to be seen how these reforms will shape the future of Mexico’s security strategy and its implications for the country’s democratic institutions.