Abstract

FRANCO, Diego; SCHTEINGART, Martha  and  UGALDE, Vicente. Review of the Discussion Day on the Political Reform of the Federal District, Mexico. Estud. demogr. urbanos [online]. 2015, vol.30, n.2, pp.469-492. ISSN 2448-6515.

On November 14, 2014, the Center for Demographic, Urban and Environmental Studies at El Colegio de México organized a discussion day to address the Federal District Political Reform. The purpose of the meeting was to listen to experts on issues related to the political, economic and social activity of the city to learn about and discuss the reform currently under legislation in the Senate. We were interested in hearing the views of experts on the implications of the reform in areas such as the political and constitutional status of what will be called "Mexico City", the rights and obligations of its inhabitants (citizens, residents ...) in areas such as budgetary and financial aspects, citizen participation, social inequality and poverty, and so on. Some of the questions that led to the organization of this discussion day were the advantages of renaming the Federal District as Mexico City; the practical implications of providing a legal definition for Mexico; and whether the longstanding demand for "full rights" will be met through the reform, in other words, whether these changes will lead to a fairer, more competitive, more modern and more democratic city; in short, whether they will make it a place where the enjoyment of rights and freedoms is more accessible.

The event comprised two panel discussions: in the first, the reform was discussed from a political and institutional perspective; whereas in the second, emphasis was placed on social and economic aspects. Below is a condensed yet faithful version of the participants' interventions.