Newly appointed Central Bank of Mexico Governor Omar Mejía Castelazo. Photo: Google

PULSE NEWS MEXICO

The Mexican Congress on Wednesday, Jan. 18, approved two new appointees of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO): Omar Mejía Castelazo as the vice governor of the Central Bank of Mexico (Banxico) and Leopoldo Vicente Melchi García as commissioner of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).

Mejía Castelazo, who had been widely criticized for not having advanced studies in economics and limited professional experience but who is a close crony of López Obrador, was approved for his post by a minimum majority of 24 votes in the congressional session.

Once he is sworn in, he will serve as a Banxico vice governor through Dec. 31, 2030.

During the same session, Mexico’s Permanent Commission of Congress also approved Melchi García as president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) for a period that will end on Dec. 31, 2029.

With 33 votes in favor and two abstentions, he was elected by ballot during the session on Wednesday.

Melchi García was proposed by AMLO to repeat his term in that position, which ended on Dec. 31, 2022.