Mexican ruling party lawmakers eye approving contentious power reform by May

A demonstrator gestures in support of Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his plan to boost state control of the power market during a demonstration outside National Congress in Mexico City, Mexico, February 17, 2022. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Congressional allies of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador are seeking to approve before May a contentious reform that would give the state greater control of the electricity sector, a ruling party lawmaker said.

Manuel Rodriguez, president of the Energy Commission in Mexico's lower house of Congress, said in an interview that talks with other parties to reach the more than 300 votes needed to pass the reform are going well.