Lauren Taylor
MEXICO’S SENATE HAS APPROVED PUTTING THE NATIONAL GUARD UNDER THE COMMAND OF ARMED FORCES.
CRITICS SAY THIS MOVE GIVES TOO MUCH POWER TO THE MILITARY OVER LAW AND ORDER.
THIS MOVE TO AMEND THE COUNTRY’S CONSTITUTION GIVES OUTGOING PRESIDENT “ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR” ANOTHER VICTORY DAYS BEFORE HIS EXIT ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
WHEN LOPEZ-OBRADOR ENTERED OFFICE IN 20-18 … HE HINTED AT PULLING THE MILITARY BACK FROM THE STREETS AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING THE DRUG CARTELS.
FAST FORWARD TO THE END OF HIS SIX YEAR TERM … THE MILITARY IS STILL THERE AND NOW SET TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD WHICH HAS AROUND 120-THOUSAND MEMBERS.
LOPEZ-ORBADOR CREATED THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ACT ESSENTIALLY AS A NATIONAL POLICE FORCE SHORTLY AFTER COMING TO OFFICE. HE PUT THE GUARD UNDER CIVILIAN CONTROL TO EASE CONCERNS ABOUT THE MILITARY’S INFLUENCE OVER PUBLIC SECURITY.
THROUGHOUT HIS ADMINISTRATION, LOPEZ-OBRADOR HAS OVERTURNED DUTIES THAT WERE HELD BY CIVILIANS … TO THE MILITARY … INCLUDING CONTROL OF A COMMERCIAL AIRLINE AND OVERSIGHT OF THE COUNTRY’S PORTS.
ALL TOGETHER IT’S ESTIMATED THE MEXICAN MILITARY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 245 MORE TASKS THAN 15 YEARS EARLIER.
PRESIDENT-ELECT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM WHO IS EXPECTED TO BE THE SUCCESSOR OF LOPEZ-OBRADOR … HAS BACKED THE MEASURES.
FOR SAN, I’M … LAUREN TAYLOR.
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