Mexico: Lopez Obrador’s team readies reform packages

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s president-elect says his team is working on two reform packages to send to lawmakers after he takes office Dec. 1.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says Friday that the focus of one set of reforms will be on government austerity and fighting corruption and impunity. Elements include classifying graft, electoral fraud and fuel theft as serious crimes and allowing sitting presidents to be prosecuted for corruption.

The second set of reforms is a social welfare package that would codify into law things such as universal pensions for the elderly, disabled and poor and free education at all levels.

Lopez Obrador said that these reforms “will distinguish and characterize the new government of the republic: fighting corruption and the welfare of the people.”