Nationalism and legitimacy
In answer to a question about how the PRI maintained its legitimacy in spite of corruption and rigged elections, I pointed to the nationalization of the oil industry as part of the answer. My assertion is supported by this news story from San Diego Union-Tribune.Many Mexicans see oil as last frontier against U.S. invasion
"Even with oil prices at record highs, Mexico's state-run oil company is managing to lose money."But a presidential plan to fix Petroleos Mexicanos by inviting foreign help is stirring deep-seated emotions over sovereignty...
"[W]hile Mexicans may shop at Walmart and eat at McDonald's, oil is a birthright. The sentiment dates back to March 18, 1938, when President Lazaro Cardenas kicked out the American and European oil companies that refused to pay union wage demands while reaping Mexico's oil profits.
"Every year on that day, school children learn about the bold eviction of foreign companies, especially those from the United States, whose annexation of half of Mexico's territory after the 1846 Mexican-American War still hurts...
"For Maria Elena Hernandez, 53, much more is at stake than Mexico's image...
"The retired secretary joined demonstrators singing the national anthem to police guarding an office building where legislators have fled in hopes of getting some work done.
"'If we let down our guard, the Americans would come in and install their oil workers,' said Hernandez, wearing a white baseball cap and T-shirt emblazoned with 'Defend Pemex.' 'Soon they would be telling us that we have to pay rent to live here.'"
And by the way,
Mexico: Leftist Lawmakers End Takeover of Congress
"The sit-in was declared over after the governing conservatives and their centrist allies agreed to 71 days of debate on the plan, to begin in the middle of May."
Labels: Mexico, political culture, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 7:34 AM
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Mexico's PRI examining legality of oil reform plan
"A key Mexican opposition party has hired lawyers to examine whether a government proposal to overhaul the state-run oil sector would breach the Constitution, a senior lawmaker said on Thursday.
"Emilio Gamboa, lower house leader for the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, said the party had constitutional experts studying whether a plan to offer incentive-based oil contracts to private firms would hold up in the Supreme Court.
"The government would need the PRI's vote to get a reform through the divided Congress, given strong opposition from left-wing lawmakers, but the party has not given a clear position on the proposal, which is bogged down in debate..."
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