President Claudia Sheinbaum. The Labor Party (PT) had its own chapter in the presidential scolding at the National Palace, where it dared to express its rejection of the 'Plan B' even before an official document was presented. For the Mexican political elite's top brass, the decisive rejection of all parliamentary groups except MORENA of the Electoral Reform in the Chamber of Deputies was the first major defeat for President Claudia Sheinbaum. The new negotiations begin with the same rejection from the Green Party (PVEM) and PT that they had against the Electoral Reform. Among federal deputies, including mayors from several states, an operation to distance themselves began, aiming to label as 'traitors to the fatherland' all legislators elected in the 'Fourth Transformation' (4T) coalition who did not vote for President Claudia Sheinbaum's constitutional proposal, while there was no shortage of those from the Green Party and the Labor Party who boasted of their 'yes' vote, against their own party leadership. Loyalty to privileges and not to the transformation movement would be a summary of the President's speech. But the scolding also included Deputy Ricardo Monreal, coordinator of the morenistas in San Lázaro, with whom the President reviewed out loud the minimum agreements reached by the three factions during the discussion forums on Electoral Reform. And, finally, the salary reduction for the INE's counselors and all INE personnel. Alberto Anaya, deputies Reginaldo Sandoval and Benjamín Robles, and Senator Geovanna Bañuelos paid attention to the President's words but did not back down. They still see themselves as victims throughout the process (being treated as second-class allies) and even blamed the media operators of the Presidency for a campaign against them. Reginaldo, already in the old corridors of the National Palace, evidenced this by showing a note from Radio Fórmula that headlined the PT's 'absence' at the meeting as: 'The 'ugly duckling' of the 4T'. And the reprisals are already being felt, particularly among its two allies: the Green Party and the Labor Party. This Wednesday evening, honoring the call of Sheinbaum Pardo herself, the leaders of the PVEM and PT attended the National Palace, where more than one version has confirmed the head of the executive's reprimand to the members of the 4T coalition. None sufficient in the opinion of Sheinbaum Pardo, hence the insistence on a 'Plan B' that is now championed by Senator Nacho Mier, present at the meeting that lasted a little over four hours. According to the same versions (Palace operators who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity), the tension centered on the Green Party's commitments to MORENA after promoting Sheinbaum's 2024 campaign together. This reminded Senator Manuel Velasco and Arturo Escobar, national electoral coordinator of that party, of the polls' voting intention results where the morena party leads the Green Party four to one. It was not said that way, but the polls were shown at the meeting, and in all of them, respondents shared their preference for morenism and their desire to change the status quo, starting with proportional representation deputies and the costs of elections. The coldness with which Sheinbaum is said to have referred to Velasco and Escobar was not because of the green vote against the Electoral Reform, which they had already announced, but because of the rejection and distrust with which they received the topics that will be included in the 'Plan B', which will also require their help in both chambers as it will be a constitutional reform. Sheinbaum assigns 828 million pesos to Beto Anaya's Cendis to tie the PT to the Electoral Reform. As announced this Thursday in the morning conference, the six central topics of Sheinbaum's 'Plan B' can be summarized as follows: reducing the budget allocated to the State Congresses, reducing resources for members of municipal councils, changing the recall date from 2028 to 2027, and vice versa by changing the date for the second part of the Judicial Election. Also, the reform of popular consultations so that electoral topics can be included under this citizen participation mechanism.
