Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and the Relevance of the Airport Project
Claudia Sheinbaum, the current President of Mexico City, recently explained the reasons behind the cancellation of the Texcoco International Airport project initiated during Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration. As the Chief of Government, Sheinbaum’s statements provide insight into the decision-making process behind this significant infrastructure project.
Technical Risks and Hidden Real Estate Interests
During her “La Mañanera del Pueblo” conference, Sheinbaum highlighted that the primary reason for suspending the project was technical: the airport’s planned location was on land with subsidence issues, and it had crucial functions like acting as a water regulator during rainy seasons. Furthermore, Sheinbaum asserted that the plan included a real estate business in the land of the current Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM), where they intended to develop a zone similar to Santa Fe.
Sheinbaum pointed out that beyond possible mismanagement or corruption investigations, the decision was based on environmental and structural risks of the site. She also reminded the public that the new airport’s construction was moved to Santa Lucía following a public consultation during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO) administration.
Peña Nieto Defends Texcoco Airport Project in New Documentary
Following Sheinbaum’s statements, former President Enrique Peña Nieto reappeared in the documentary “Texcoco. La decisión del Presidente,” produced by the Centro de Estudios Espinosa Yglesias (CEEY). In this documentary, Peña Nieto expressed his surprise at the project’s cancellation and denied any evidence of corruption.
Throughout the documentary, which consists of four chapters, Peña Nieto questioned the arguments presented by AMLO’s government and maintained that the project had a strategic location that would promote urban development. He mentioned, “I thought they would continue with it, perhaps make adjustments, but not cancel it.”
The series features testimonies and analyses on the economic and environmental consequences of canceling the Nuevo Aeropuerto Internacional de México (NAIM), along with compensations paid to contractors and the subsequent construction of the Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Ángeles (AIFA).
Government Justifications and Public Reaction
Although Peña Nieto acknowledged allegations of corruption, he emphasized that they had not been proven. Conversely, the AMLO government justified the cancellation by stating that the project was unfeasible from environmental, economic, and technical perspectives.
According to the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT), the 2019 cancellation prevented excessive financial commitments and made better use of existing infrastructure. Additionally, concerns were raised about soil instability risks and potential long-term negative impacts.
Regarding Peña Nieto’s participation in the documentary, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded cautiously: “It’s too early to know why he appeared in this documentary,” she stated.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the main reason for canceling the Texcoco Airport project? The primary reason given by President Claudia Sheinbaum was technical: the airport’s planned location had subsidence issues, and it played a crucial role in water regulation during rainy seasons.
- What were the hidden real estate interests in the project? Sheinbaum claimed that the plan included developing a real estate business on land of the current Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM), similar to the Santa Fe zone.
- How did former President Peña Nieto react to the cancellation? In a documentary, Peña Nieto expressed surprise at the project’s cancellation and denied any evidence of corruption, maintaining that it had a strategic location for urban development.
- What justifications did the AMLO government provide for canceling the project? The government stated that the project was unfeasible from environmental, economic, and technical perspectives, citing soil instability risks and potential long-term negative impacts.
- How did President Claudia Sheinbaum respond to Peña Nieto’s appearance in the documentary? Sheinbaum responded cautiously, stating that it was too early to understand Peña Nieto’s reasons for appearing in the documentary.
