11-06-2015: Latin American Weekly Report

In the elections to renew the 500-seat federal lower chamber of congress, the PRI in alliance with the Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM) and the Partido Nueva Alianza (Panal) looks set to surpass the 251 seats required for a simple majority, according to preliminary results. This was the most important result of election day for the federal government led by President Peña Nieto, especially given the fear that its mishandling of serious human rights issues in Mexico, and damaging conflict of interest allegations, could exact a toll on the PRI. The opposition will not now be able to stymie any legislative initiatives associated with Peña Nieto’s reform agenda – the major reforms have already been approved – in the second half of his sexenio.