In Mexico City, a debate (and a vote) about oil

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Despite the many hardships suffered by its people, Mexico is a rich country, in terms of its natural resources. And none of those resources is more highly prized than the nation’s oil reserves. The country’s wealth of black gold is a great source of nationalistic pride, as well as political opportunism. Raising the question of how much to open Mexican oil fields to foreign investment or development is a sure way to spark a heated discussion.

That’s the historical background to what Times business writer Marla Dickerson describes as the current ‘bitter debate’ over ‘how to rescue Mexico’s troubled state-owned oil company,’ known as Pemex. That debate, she writes, ‘went directly to the people Sunday as residents of the capital and nine states voted in a nonbinding referendum on President Felipe Calderon’s plan to open some portions of the petroleum industry to outsiders.’

‘The vote, organized by the opposition Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD, has no official bearing on energy legislation making its way through Congress. But opponents of Calderon’s reforms hope a decisive ‘no’ vote will force legislators to back off.’

‘The balloting was the first of three so-called Citizen Consultation referendums over the next month that will eventually cover Mexico’s 31 states and federal district.... Mexico City’s historic center was bustling with poll workers wearing T-shirts emblazoned with ‘I decide,’ the referendum’s slogan. A six-piece band performed ‘The oil isn’t for sale,’ a popular refrain among Mexicans wary of privatizing Pemex, the state oil company.’

Here’s a video by Times staffer Deborah Bonello looking at Sunday’s scene.

-- Reed Johnson in Caracas, Venezuela