Reforms in Mexico City Bring Glimmer of Hope for Mexican Politics Lisa Nikolau - Humanosphere
go to original March 1, 2016

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, second from the right. (Office of the president of Mexico/Flickr)

After decades of rising unemployment, frequent and violent crime, public discontent and institutionalized corruption that permeates nearly every level of government, Mexican politics is going through a period of change, and there are mixed reactions over whether it will be for the better.

Mexico has renamed its capital city – an area of nearly 9 million people – exchanging the name of “Federal District” (DF) for the name by which it is internationally known: Ciudad de México, or Mexico City.

The name change was made official by President Enrique Peña Nieto on Jan. 29th as part of a large-scale political reform, which moves Mexico City closer toward becoming a state with more autonomy. According to the Guardian, the shift gives more authority to the city’s mayor, more independence to the capital’s 16 boroughs and a new constitution for the city.

Some hope the reforms and new constitution will mean a new chapter for the country’s capital; others are not so optimistic. According to Mexico News Daily, an assembly of elected and appointed members will begin work on the constitutional document in September and finish by the end of January 2017.

Read the rest at Humanosphere

Related: Mexican Politics: Can Citizens Take Control of Mexico's Future? (Mexico Voices)

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