This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/02/mexican-president-speech-enrique-pena-nieto
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mexican president defends shakeup in first state-of-the-nation speech | Mexican president defends shakeup in first state-of-the-nation speech |
| (17 days later) | |
| The Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, used his first state-of-the-nation address to defend and promote his government's shakeup of the economy and public sector, which has already triggered demonstrations paralysing the capital, Mexico City, accompanied by outbreaks of violence. | The Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, used his first state-of-the-nation address to defend and promote his government's shakeup of the economy and public sector, which has already triggered demonstrations paralysing the capital, Mexico City, accompanied by outbreaks of violence. |
| "We knew beforehand that it would be complex and that there would be inertia and resistance," Peña Nieto said during his speech on Monday, exactly nine months into his administration. "The great transformation of Mexico is possible, and it has started." | "We knew beforehand that it would be complex and that there would be inertia and resistance," Peña Nieto said during his speech on Monday, exactly nine months into his administration. "The great transformation of Mexico is possible, and it has started." |
| The president put particular emphasis on his education plans, twice celebrating Sunday night's approval by the lower house of congress of a law tying teachers' jobs to evaluation of their performance. | The president put particular emphasis on his education plans, twice celebrating Sunday night's approval by the lower house of congress of a law tying teachers' jobs to evaluation of their performance. |
| Opposition to the bill, which now goes to the senate, has been at the centre of two weeks of protests by teachers from some of Mexico's poorest states who are camping out in the city's main Zocalo plaza. They claim the changes unfairly blame them for the substandard quality of state schools and contain a hidden privatisation agenda. | Opposition to the bill, which now goes to the senate, has been at the centre of two weeks of protests by teachers from some of Mexico's poorest states who are camping out in the city's main Zocalo plaza. They claim the changes unfairly blame them for the substandard quality of state schools and contain a hidden privatisation agenda. |
| As well as causing traffic chaos on multiple occasions, the teachers' protests have included blocking access to the international airport for nine hours, and occasional clashes with police. Violence during marches at the weekend was primarily attributed to groups of anarchists that tagged along. | As well as causing traffic chaos on multiple occasions, the teachers' protests have included blocking access to the international airport for nine hours, and occasional clashes with police. Violence during marches at the weekend was primarily attributed to groups of anarchists that tagged along. |
| Teachers' leaders reacted to the passage of the law by announcing a "teachers' insurrection" beginning with the promise of massive protests on Wednesday. | Teachers' leaders reacted to the passage of the law by announcing a "teachers' insurrection" beginning with the promise of massive protests on Wednesday. |
| Tension over education policy feeds into deep suspicion of other parts of the new government's shakeup plans, particularly a proposal to open Mexico's state-owned energy section to more participation by the private sector that strikes at the heart of nationalist sentiment. Thousands marched against that proposal on Saturday, with a more ambitious demonstration planned for this weekend. | Tension over education policy feeds into deep suspicion of other parts of the new government's shakeup plans, particularly a proposal to open Mexico's state-owned energy section to more participation by the private sector that strikes at the heart of nationalist sentiment. Thousands marched against that proposal on Saturday, with a more ambitious demonstration planned for this weekend. |
| As well as promoting his agenda as the road to showing the world that "this is the year that Mexico dared to take off," Peña Nieto used his speech to claim major advances towards pacification of the drug wars still raging around Mexico. | As well as promoting his agenda as the road to showing the world that "this is the year that Mexico dared to take off," Peña Nieto used his speech to claim major advances towards pacification of the drug wars still raging around Mexico. |
| The president boasted of a 13.7% reduction in homicides since he took office, achieved through improved co-ordination within the different branches of law enforcement, and issued a warning to self-defence groups springing up in some beleaguered states that vigilante justice would not be tolerated. | The president boasted of a 13.7% reduction in homicides since he took office, achieved through improved co-ordination within the different branches of law enforcement, and issued a warning to self-defence groups springing up in some beleaguered states that vigilante justice would not be tolerated. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
Previous version
1
Next version