News Summary for May 7th, 2008

++ Naming Guadalupe Acosta Naranjo as interim PRD president is not legally valid said Ernestina Godoy, who heads the party’s National Guarantees Commission.

++ And the Federal Electoral Institute will review the validity of Acosta Naranjo’s appointment to the post. The IFE warned that if the move was not valid, it may order that another national council be named.

++ However, Rafael Hernández, PRD representative to the IFE, said the institute has been informed of Acosta Naranjo’s appointment, which is legal, according to Hernández.

++ And chief justice of the Federal electoral tribunal, María del Carmen Alanís, said no ruling will occur this week regarding complaints filed by Jesús Ortega against the PRD internal election.

++ In other news, senate PRD coordinator, Carlos Navarrete, said that Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas and Lorenzo Meyer are two of the first figures on the list to take part in the first phase of national debate on energy reform… Andrés Manuel López Obrador is not on the list.

++ President Felipe Calderón enacted constitutional reform in public spending by which, he said, there will be more efficiency and transparency in the use of federal funds on a national level.

A PRD lawmaker took part in the event, Francisco Santos Arreola, who is the secretary of the jurisdictional commission at the Chamber of Deputies. Santos Arreola acknowledged Calderón as president of Mexico and he criticized his fellow party members who continue to support a Mexico led by “caudillos.”

++ And the Lower House of Chambers began the selection process to choose another three IFE councilors who will begin their terms in August.