Mexico's congress votes to remove politicians' legal immunity
Mexico's congress votes to remove politicians' legal immunity
The vote to remove politicians’ immunity is meant to curb corruption and lessen perceptions Mexico’s political class can act above the law
David Agren
@el_reportero
Fri 20 Apr 2018 16.25 EDT Last modified on Fri 20 Apr 2018 17.59 EDT
Mexico’s lower house of Congress has voted to remove politicians’ immunity from prosecution, a move meant to curb corruption and impunity and lessen perceptions the country’s political class can act above the law.
Under the constitutional changes approved late on Thursday, the country’s president – who can currently only be impeached for treason and “serious crimes of the common order” – could be put on criminal trial while in office, but only after a vote in congress.
“This bill will put an end to the impunity that prevails in Mexico’s political circles,” congressman Jesús Álvarez López of the leftist Morena party told AP.
Politicians from all sides were quick to claim credit for the changes – which have long been pushed by parties while in opposition but blocked by the party in power.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/20/mexico-congress-politician-legal-immunity-vote
LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142042937
