Mexican deputies voted on Saturday to attach the National Guard to the army to fight against drug trafficking, against the votes of the opposition which denounces "
the most militaristic president in the history of the country
".
The reform of the National Guard, a security body created by leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador when he came to power at the end of 2018, was approved by 265 votes against 212.
The text, which will be sent to the Senate for final adoption, has sparked lively debate in a country that is wondering about the right strategy to deal with organized crime.
The reform plans to place the National Guard under the supervision of the Secretariat (Ministry) of Defence.
The National Guard currently depends on another ministry, even if its 115,000 members are mainly soldiers.
"
The end goal is not to militarize the country or authoritarianism
," according to the bill, but to "
strengthen
" the National Guard "
as a permanent police force
."
“
You lied to the Mexicans by promising them that the military would return to their barracks
,” accused a representative of the National Action Party (PAN, liberal-conservative opposition).
Mr. Lopez Obrador "
is the most militaristic president in the history of the country
," added another PAN deputy, Jorge Triana.
The president transferred customs control to the army in 2021.
Major works (second México airport, tourist train in the Yucatan) were also entrusted to the military.
“
The army is the people in uniform
,” President Lopez Obrador often repeats.