PRI deputies expressed their discontent with the approval of reforms they consider to violate human rights, alleging that "Human rights have died," emphasizing that "The presumption of innocence has died." The coordinator of Morena, Ricardo Monreal, mentioned that there should be reflection on the literalness of the norms being modified in the Constitution.
Despite the modifications to the draft submitted for discussion and voting in the Senate, opposition parties like PAN, PRI, and MC protested against it, accusing Morena of seeking to jail people without sufficient evidence. The lack of strategies to combat crime was denounced, with PAN deputy Annia Gómez reprimanding Morena for establishing what she called the "Morena Law" of "you go to jail until you prove your innocence."
Gómez also highlighted the need to address drug dealing from a social perspective to rebuild social fabric and prevent harm to youth. The importance of expanding regulations on the distribution of chemical precursors was emphasized to avoid impunity and ensure that those involved in the production of synthetic drugs are properly prosecuted.
With 335 votes in favor and 108 against in the Chamber of Deputies, the majority of Morena and its allies from PT and PVEM modified the draft reforming Article 19 of the Constitution regarding preventive detention. The original initiative presented by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had the crimes of tax fraud, drug dealing, and chemical precursors removed.
The approved draft includes cases where the judge may order preventive detention for crimes such as extortion, drug dealing, activities related to fentanyl, and tax fraud, among others. Despite the criticisms, reservations proposed by Ricardo Monreal, the coordinator of Morena, were agreed upon, adjusting the initial proposal by excluding tax crimes, drug dealing, and chemical precursors.
In this context, Monreal argued that tax fraud has been a topic of intense discussion within Morena. It is important to highlight that, despite the discrepancies and criticisms, the approval of the modifications to Article 19 of the Constitution related to preventive detention was achieved.
