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WORLD NEWS Friday 29 april 2022
Mexico president proposes dramatic electoral reforms

By MARIA VERZA proved."
Associated Press López Obrador has spent
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mex- decades battling electoral
ico's government on Thurs- authorities. He considers
day proposed a dramatic himself a victim of elec-
overhaul of the nation's toral fraud on multiple oc-
electoral system and the casions, though it was the
agency that oversees it — National Electoral Institute
one of the country's most that confirmed his landslide
trusted institutions. It would presidential victory in 2018.
reduce the size of Con- The proposals would re-
gress and state legislatures duce the number of legis-
while having the federal lators in the lower chamber
elections board chosen by of Congress from 500 to 300
voters, potentially adding and senators from 128 to
a higher degree of politics 96 by eliminating at-large
to what has been an inde- lawmakers. Those are not
pendent body. directly elected by voters,
The proposal also would but appear on party lists
reduce federal funding of and get seats based on
political parties and spend- their party's proportion of
ing on elections in general the vote.
— a repeated target of Political parties would only
President Andrés Manuel Mexican President Andres Manuel Obrador smiles as people applaud after the playing of the receive public funding
López Obrador, who has national anthem at the end of an event where he delivered a speech on economic figures, in during campaigns rather
often feuded with the Na- Mexico City, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. than yearly, as now. Rules
tional Electoral Institute. Associated Press against officials and agen-
The proposals presented by cies promoting their pro-
López Obrador and sever- a true democracy in the jority in Congress required last week. grams during campaign
al members of his cabinet country and that electoral to make constitutional López Obrador appeared seasons would be eased.
would create a new fed- frauds end ... to leave a changes. The main oppo- to acknowledge that the Currently, even many gov-
eral elections authority to true democratic state es- sition parties have already proposed reforms are un- ernment websites are inac-
replace the institute, as well tablished." said they oppose such likely to pass. He called on tivated during campaigns.
as eliminating similar state- But the path for what will changes. the Congress to study each López Obrador's admin-
level bodies. surely be a controversial Another major constitu- element of the proposal, istration argues that the
"There is no intention of reform package would be tional reform proposed by make the public aware changes would save Mex-
imposing a single party," difficult. López Obrador's the president, to shake up and then decide. He said ico $1.2 billion and allow
López Obrador said. "What party and its allies do not the energy sector, fell well it was his responsibility to citizens to select honest
we want is that there is have the two-thirds ma- short of the votes needed present it "even if it's not ap- people to run elections.q

20 dead, thousands flee homes as gangs battle in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) who are demanding ac- "I can see kids crying be-
— Criminal violence in Haiti tion from Prime Minister cause they're hungry and
worsened this week. with Ariel Henry's administration, families don't have any-
fighting among gangs in which is receiving inter- thing to provide to them,"
part of the capital chasing national help to boost an he said, adding that needs
thousands from their homes underfunded and under- were growing as the fight-
and killing at least 20 peo- staffed police force. ing continued. "I don't
ple, including children. A family of eight, including know what it's going to be
Haiti's Civil Protection six children, was among like tomorrow."
Agency said the fight- those killed since Sunday, Authorities said that along
ing began Sunday in four authorities said Wednes- with the dead, two dozen
neighborhoods in Port-au- day. Schools and busi- people had been injured
Prince, north of the inter- nesses in the area remain in the violence, and that
national airport. At least a closed as thousands of one bullet hit an empty
dozen homes were burned families with children are United Nations Humanitar-
downand many of those camping in a park near a ian Air Service helicopter A motorcycle taxi driver carries clients past a demonstration
who fled initially took shel- local mayor's office. stationed near the airport. against increasing violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday,
ter in the yard of a local "They need water, food, "The conflict is likely to es- March 29, 2022.
mayor's office. supplies," said Jean Ray- calate in the coming days, Associated Press
The eruption comes amid mond Dorcely, who runs a leading to further casual-
a spike in violence and kid- small grassroots community ties and new population tissant community in south- families last year that have
nappings as gangs grow organization. "They had to migrations," the Civil Pro- ern Port-au-Prince already spent months in over-
more powerful and seek to leave with nothing in their tection Agency said. has cut off access to the crowded, unhygienic gov-
control more territory amid hands." Officials warned that main country's southern region, ernment shelters in Port-au-
the power vacuum follow- He said that the neighbor- roads leading to Haiti's which is trying to recover Prince and surrounding ar-
ing the July 7 assassination hood is usually quiet and northern region could be from last year's deadly eas. It wasn't immediately
of President Jovenel Moïse. that his child often plays in cut off as a result of the earthquake. clear where the newly dis-
The situation has angered the park now turned into a fighting. The Martissant violence placed families would be
and frustrated Haitians, makeshift outdoor shelter. Gang violence in the Mar- displaced thousands of staying.q