News Summary for July 25th, 2008

++ National leaders of the PRI, PAN and PRD, Beatriz Paredes, Germán Martínez and Guadalupe Acosta Naranjo, agreed to move forward and present a reform proposal for in Pemex, and pledged to approve an energy reform packet in a special or extraordinary congressional session.

++ PRD senator Graco Ramírez, said that his party and the PRI will move forward together to approve petroleum reform in September… Ramírez said that the PRI proposal is not a proposal to privatize the state-owned company.

++ The Federal Electoral Tribunal Electoral backed the participation of the Federal District Electoral Institute on Sunday’s citizen’s consultation on energy reform, since its role is not organizing the survey but providing technical assistance.

++ Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said he was willing to debate with President Calderón on energy reform, though he said the debate would not be in the short term.

++ Calderón ordered more army soldiers and food and other aid to help more than 100,000 citizens affected by hurricane Dolly in Tamaulipas, where one person was killed… Despite being downgraded to a tropical depression, the storm continued to cause rains.

++ The head of the PRD in the Federal District, Alejandra Barrales, has filed a criminal complaint against the office of the presidency for embezzlement since, the complaint says, the presidency has exceeded its spending budget in government advertising.