Background on the Situation
The Mexican Congress approved the 2026 Presupuesto de Egresos de la Federación (PEF) with 358 votes in favor, 133 against, and no abstentions. The approval took place amid heated debates in the Chamber of Deputies of San Lázaro, where opposition parties criticized proposed cuts to the security budget and insufficient resources allocated to health, investment, and other essential areas for public welfare.
Key Criticisms and Protests
The main criticism revolves around the proposed reduction of 10,000 million pesos in public security funding across the country. Additionally, there is a 0.7% real cut to the Fondo de Aportaciones a la Seguridad Pública, which provides resources to all municipalities. Panista Héctor Saúl Téllez stated, “This budget confirms an absent state, an inactive state, and a permissive state towards insecurity and organized crime.”
The PRI bancada protested the assassination of Uruapan’s mayor, Carlos Manzo, by entering the session hall wearing blood-stained hats and carrying signs reading “Manzo Lives!” as a silent demonstration.
In Tribuna, PRI coordinator Rubén Moreira emphasized the need for justice for Carlos Manzo and other Mexicans affected by violence, calling for increased funding for municipalities, higher police salaries, and restoring the Chamber’s role as a representative body for citizens.
Additional Criticisms and Budget Details
Further criticisms highlighted the neglect of security concerns while the ruling party dismissed these comments as hypocritical, labeling opposition members as “scavengers.”
The 2026 PEF proposes a budget of 10.1 trillion pesos for the following year, an increase of 5.9% compared to this year’s approved budget. Out of this amount, 1.78 trillion pesos will be financed through debt, meaning 17 out of every 100 pesos will be borrowed.
For the upcoming year, 14 priority social programs are planned, absorbing 987.16 billion pesos. The Pensión para Adultos Mayores and the Benito Juárez Scholarship Program are expected to receive 526.508 billion pesos and 184.595 billion pesos, respectively.
On the infrastructure side, 13 projects are proposed with a total budget of 536.806 billion pesos, led by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) with an investment of 247.230 billion pesos.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of this news article? The Mexican Congress approved the 2026 Presupuesto de Egresos de la Federación (PEF) amidst criticism for proposed cuts to the security budget.
- What are the main criticisms against the approved PEF 2026? Critics argue that the budget cuts 10,000 million pesos from public security funding nationwide and reduces the Fondo de Aportaciones a la Seguridad Pública by 0.7% in real terms, which they claim demonstrates an absent, inactive, and permissive state regarding insecurity and organized crime.
- What protests were made during the approval of the PEF 2026? The PRI bancada protested the assassination of Uruapan’s mayor, Carlos Manzo, by entering the session hall wearing blood-stained hats and carrying signs reading “Manzo Lives!” as a silent demonstration.
- What are the key details of the 2026 PEF budget? The proposed budget is 10.1 trillion pesos, an increase of 5.9% from this year’s approved budget. Out of this amount, 1.78 trillion pesos will be financed through debt. Priority social programs, including the Pensión para Adultos Mayores and Benito Juárez Scholarship Program, will receive substantial funding. Infrastructure projects, led by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), are also proposed.
