Mexican oil reform plan irks lawmakers

MEXICO CITY – Leftist lawmakers took over both chambers of Mexico’s Congress to protest President Felipe Calderon’s energy reform bill, which would make it easier for the state oil company to seek outside help to develop oil fields.

Legislators from the Democratic Revolution Party and two minor parties stormed the podiums and forced a recess in both the Senate and lower house of Congress. Some donned hard hats with the symbol of the state-owned oil company and shouted, “The country is not for sale!”

The bill’s opponents say it would leave state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex – a source of national pride and much of the national budget – in the hands of private and even foreign investors.

Lawmakers said they were worried they would not get to debate the president’s proposal, especially after Energy Secretary Georgina Kessel canceled a meeting with them. On Thursday evening, the lawmakers withdrew from the Senate speakers’ platform in what Sen. Carlos Navarette called a good-faith gesture, although protesters vowed to remain outside the building.

Calderon’s energy bill, presented on Tuesday, would relax some restrictions on Pemex and make it easier to sign contracts with outside companies.

It would also let Pemex – which now depends on U.S. refineries to convert much of its crude into gasoline – hire specialized firms to build and operate new refineries for Mexico.